Four stared at her phone, rereading the messages displayed for the third time in less than ten minutes. Despite it being less than a week since she had left Little Reef, other than a brief exchange with her mother that she had arrived back in Inkopolis safely, there were essentially no messages from her family. Four suspected that her declaring Dana elvi-yan had something to do with it.
Being renounced by a member of one's own family was one of the most shameful marks to be placed on someone in a society as social as that of inklings. It was a mark that told everyone that even your own blood family was unwilling to put up with you. Of course, it also hurt the reputation of the family, so the declaration was seldom made, and it was partly due to this rarity that it had so much weight behind it. Dana's social life had probably taken more than just a hit, it was probably in ruins right now. Four didn't regret what she did but, in spite of everything Dana had done to her, she couldn't help but feel just a little sorry for her.
"Four? Are you alright?"
Four looked up at Marie standing beside her and saw the concern in her expression and mantle.
"Okay, I guess. I just haven't heard anything from my family since I got back. I guess they're dealing with the fallout of what I did."
"You did the right thing," Marie told her. "It sounded like your sister needed a reality check and you were within your rights."
"But I'm told that I have a habit of making trouble for the whole family. I guess that's what's really bothering me."
Marie's mantle tinted green. "There will be consequences, sure, but those are consequences caused by their inaction rather than your action. They let Dana get to that point and at your expense." She paused. "You still don't know what was in that letter?"
Four flashed red. "I gave it to Silvia. She's the closest thing I have to a matron. She looked at it and said she'd have to have it looked at by a priestess. I haven't heard anything back yet."
Marie made a quiet noise that came from deep in her throat. "Well, try not to focus on that right now. Not while we're here."
Four flashed green and put her phone away. "Right, sorry."
She and Marie were standing in line to enter the Temple of Few. So named because it was one of very few temples not open to the general public, which sounded contrary to their mission and calling, but that was because this temple existed for a specific purpose.
The Temple of Few was a centuries old structure but it was meticulously updated and maintained by the Ecclesiarchy. Originally, it was made as a safe place for Inkopolis' leaders to come for congregations, to seek wisdom, or just to make confessions, away from the pressure of their positions, without being hounded by people seeking favours, and gossips who might speculate why a leader would go in for a private confession. In order to facilitate this privacy, the public was kept out. After celebrities became a concept in society, they too were often included.
In practice, celebrities made up the overwhelming majority of visitors, desiring the chance to go to congregations and continue their lifelong spiritual routines without being hounded by fans or business types. Relatively few in government felt the need to use the temple since it would be frowned upon if a matron felt uncomfortable congregating with those of her own shoal, and even matriarchs usually attended the same temples they had when they were matrons. More often, the few in government who did attend were those in the higher echelons of the bureaucracy, and perhaps the monarch's cabinet.
Marie offered her ID to the acolyte attending the door as their turn in line came. She indicated Four as her personal guest and they were let inside.
Even back in Little Reef, Four had known about the Temple of Few. On the outside it looked like any other old temple from the pre-unification period, creating the impression of frugality back when it had originally been built. Inside however, that seemed almost like a facade.
Four was in awe as she and Marie entered the enormous atrium, a tall spire with windows in the walls that let in light while the very top was capped by a small glass skylight. Four had to quickly look back down at the polished granite floor to keep from getting vertigo.
Ahead of them was an enormous pool of water with a tall sculpted fountain in the middle, made to mimic natural rock springs found in the mountains. Callie stood in front of it, conspicuously alone.
"You made it," she said, flashing a greeting.
"We aren't even late," Marie replied, smiling despite the bitter tone she tried to project.
Four flashed her greeting and looked around. Callie smiled, the question obvious.
"We're not the only family Three has. She's visiting her parents right now, with Eight, I think." She pulsed grey, rippling a hint of melancholy blue. "I wish we could all be together for this too, especially since it's your first time, but Three hasn't seen her parents in a while and she does have a new pair of siblings on the way. It's important she makes peace with all that before groshgott lands." She offered her hand. "Come on, let's go."
Four accepted the hand and took Marie's as well. The three walked around the fountain into the main hall, Four between her beloved big sisters.
The grand hall acted as a social area and nexus to which the Grand Hall and the adjoining Advocate halls were connected. Each entrance to one of the advocate halls had some symbol or representation of that advocacy, sometimes referred to as a sect. Four could see the entrance for her own advocate.
Advocates tended to different depending on the local history and culture. In her grandparents' town, the advocate for Chaos and Anarchy was the Helix, and it had been represented by a genuine helical fossil. Here, a broken clay tablet flanked each side of the doorway, with the helical fossil mounted above the keystone of the arched doorway.
"The Helix is a popular advocate for people who work in government," Marie told her. "After all, the bureaucracy is all about a bunch of different parts that don't work very well and often compete with each other but somehow gets things done. Sometimes embracing that chaos is the only way they can get through with their sanity."
Four smirked. "Yeah, I can understand that. One of the priestesses I knew said a similar thing about the Ecclesiarchy."
"Well, we're hoping for something more organized," Callie giggled. "So we'll be going there."
She pointed to another door further down. This one was flanked by a pair of tall human statues. The one on the right side was a male holding a long spear in both hands, ready to fight, the other was of a female with a large shield in front of her and a short blade strapped to her hip. The symbol above the door was written in characters she didn't recognize.
They walked down the short corridor that led into the advocate hall. Every hall was unique for its particular advocate, and this one was no different. Upon entering, Four found the walls and floor brightly coloured, but unlike the messy, slapdash mosaics of the Helix temple she was familiar with, the patterns in the floor were highly regimented. The floor itself was made of hexagon tiles, each with a coloured arrow.
Callie and Marie's hands suddenly squeezed hers a little harder, prompting Four to look up.
Just ahead of them was a tall, bronze statue of a human wearing armour made of square plates tied together. In his right hand he held a stylus of some kind, his left hand rested on the hilt of what looked like a rectangular bat. At the base of the statue was more of the strange script she'd seen over the doorway, but underneath it was what Four assumed to be the translation into Inklish script:
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles."
Then Four noticed what had probably caused the Squid Sisters to tense up. Standing just to the side of the statue, out of the way just enough to not block the script, was an inkyora garbed in a green, blue, and purple robe, of a high priestess, looking directly at them.
The three of them stopped in front of the priestess and bowed in deference, their mantles white.
"I'm glad you're here," she said, bowing in return. "I am High-Priestess Morrigan Gunner. I've been expecting you."
That sounded ominous, especially to Four. First, Mia and Tephy had been given divine punishments that put them in a position to help her right when she needed it, and now a high priestess was waiting there for them on the eve of the biggest battle since the Great Turf War.
"We're honored, high-priestess," Marie said, sounding a little confused. "I wasn't aware we were being expected."
"Oh I know," the high-priestess smiled back. "Do not think about the 'how', just accept that it has happened and move on. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what your need to visit the Advocate of War is, but I am here to help."
Four blinked. "Huh? This is the advocate of war?" She looked up at the statue, noting that while he wore armour and seemed to carry a weapon, she couldn't understand the need for the stylus in his other hand or the bundles of rectangular sticks she just noticed at his feet.
"Correct, young one." The high priestess turned and gestured up at the statue. "This is Sun Tzu, one of the most respected military geniuses, philosophers, and leaders in the entire history of the Precursors, and writer of the Art of War, one of the most important tomes of knowledge and wisdom ever created. His philosophy was always to win first, then fight."
"Sounds familiar," Four said, grinning wryly at Marie who grinned back.
"Then when do you believe it is appropriate to start a war?"
Four frowned at the question and thought about it for a moment. "When it's advantageous for you."
"Advantageous? Do you mean you fight because you know you'll win?"
"Doesn't make much sense to start a fight you know you'll lose."
"There are consequences to wars, child, even if you win."
All three of them winced. They were going to find that out soon enough, they were sure.
"To start, lives are usually lost when fighting begins, usually many lives. Lives are priceless, do you not think so?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Not only that, but wars can also cause damage to the economy, infrastructure, culture, government, many things. Wars are destructive, child, you must never forget that. That is why wars are best avoided as much as possible."
Four frowned and tightened her grip on Callie and Marie's hands. Why was she the only one being talked to?
"Then when is it a good idea to start a war?"
The priestess gestured to the floor. "Look down. What do you see?"
Four looked down, seeing the same arrow tiles she had seen when she came in – no, not the same. These ones were different colours. Some green, some blue, some red, and so on. Stepping back, she realized there were blank tiles between some of them, making the arrows form square formations.
Gunner gestured to her left, indicating another group, of arrows, this time the square formations were organized into columns, and it was then that Four realized the arrows represented an army.
Together, Callie, Marie, and Four followed the priestess around the perimeter of the statue's base, watching the silent story unfold.
The army of multi-coloured arrows encountered another army, this one represented by different coloured circles, but unlike the arrow army, the circle army's formations were organized by colour and in a checkerboard layout.
The next in the sequences showed the arrow army attacking the circles in one big rush – well, almost. A small group of white arrows stayed behind, but not enough to make a difference in the battle. Only a portion of the Circle army was being engaged, which would let the arrows tear them apart piecemeal.
The next part showed a very different image however, as the second row of formations in the Circle army advanced and pinned many of the arrows between the formations in the first row of circles. In addition, the circle formations on the wings started to move around behind the horde of arrows, flanking them. In this same sequence, the white arrows which had refrained from charging were pointed away from the battle and further away, indicating they were leaving the fight, abandoning their comrades.
The next part showed the Arrow army in complete disarray, the dead (represented by broken arrows) were all around the circles, while the remaining arrows were turned away, trying to flee while the fresher second line of Circles chased them, the more weary first line remained behind, attacking small, disparate groups of arrows that tried to reform. The Circles, however, were blocking the retreat with even fresher troops that had flanked them and the arrows butting up against them were facing all different directions, hopelessly disorganized and probably panicked.
The next part showed the field filled with broken arrows, a handful of cracked ones being led away between formations of circles. The arrows were no longer different colours; now they were all white.
Now, at halfway around the statue, they came to another prominent section, this one showing the cracked arrows grouped together and facing different directions, with the circles, in perfect square formations.
"They were already shown captured in the last one," she murmured. "What does this one mean?"
"Enslavement," Callie said soberly. Back when this was originally made, that was probably still a thing."
"It was indeed," Gunner replied. "This segment shows the Circle army returned from a successful campaign, carrying the spoils of war, and united in victory. What do you think the lesson was?"
Four thought for a moment. "The Arrows should have been more cohesive. They just attacked like a mob. Those Circle formations were way too strong to be beaten that way. The circles acted like a real team, like an army. Everyone knew what they needed to do and did it."
"Yes. The Circles were united in purpose, and they cooperated because they were all one people, and they trusted each other. The Arrows were all different peoples who were united only by a common enemy and the promise of victory, creating a fragile alliance. But they also did not take the time to understand their enemy, how they fought or any intelligence gathering, really. There is a lot more that could be said but you have the gist. Rather, one interpretation of it. The story isn't yet over though."
She moved on, continuing their circle around the statue, showing the new section. Cracked white arrows surrounded by fewer numbers of different coloured circles, no longer able to put up a fight; however, there were a few different coloured arrows who were facing against the circles, apparently putting up some kind of resistance.
This story continued as they walked. There were more coloured arrows, fighting back against the circles but now there were more circles to contend with and some of them were in formation. Four guessed that the arrows were rising in rebellion after being under the yoke of slavery for too long and the circle army was being brought in to crush them. Unfortunately, it seemed they hadn't brought enough, as the different coloured arrows, now one colour, fought back against the circle army, defeating it.
Unfortunately, the circles returned, and the now multi-coloured arrows fled, only to find another group of circles bullying a group of triangles. The arrows defeated those circles and freed the triangles, and did the same for a group of squares.
Now, the arrows, triangles, and squares faced off together against the circles, formed into formations based on their shape, and each formation a different colour. The circles attacked, and the other shapes seemed to hold for a bit, but gradually began to break. Unlike before with the horde of arrows, this army recollected itself on the battlefield, groups of arrows, squares, and triangles forming ad-hoc, multicoloured units that continued to resist, long enough for the circle army to call it quits.
Then, they saw the circle army arranged against a differently formed army of allied shapes, this one had formations comprising different shapes but each formation was once again a single colour. Now, when the circles attacked, the allied army held firm and broke the different coloured circles' formations, scattering them. The last one in the sequence, before they got back to where they'd begun, showed all the different shapes the same colour.
"The slaves revolted and met up with slaves of other peoples and defeated the circles," Four said. "Then the different shapes united."
The priestess smiled. "Basically, yes, but this is not the last in the sequence, little one."
All three girls frowned, confused, but the priestess just kept smiling and gestured to the first image they'd seen, one entirely of multicoloured arrows in formation. "Take a closer look. If you were to use different shapes to make an arrow, which would they be."
Then it dawned on them all. "A triangle and a square."
"Correct. The alliance of different shapes became something greater: they became one people, their different traits and ways added to the whole and used to strengthen it, all seen as equals, though they may come in different colours."
Four nodded slowly. "So the first half was starting a war unnecessarily, actually, even if they were the ones being invaded, they probably shouldn't have fought, or at least found a different way to fight. The second one… well, they were slaves, struggling just to survive and being mistreated. Weren't they right to fight for their freedom?"
"One of the great questions, my child. The truth is there is rarely an answer that is always correct. One must rely on wisdom and good judgement to decide these things, to break the cycle of war with peace. Sometimes that requires people who can think outside of the cycle and find other ways of fighting or simply make fighting unnecessary. Sun Tzu said, 'the greatest victory is one that requires no battle'."
She looked the three of them over and then asked. "So, would you like to discuss how this lesson relates to you?"
Four honestly did; although, she was a bit afraid to. There were so many interpretations of what she had seen, which was probably the point. Like, what if the Octarians were the original arrows? Had Octavio's attacks been their effort to break free of their captivity? Was what Callie and Marie were trying to do breaking this cycle? Or were the crabs the circles? There were a dizzying number of possibilities.
Callie and Marie both squeezed her hands, probably thinking the same as her.
"High-Priestess," Marie said. "Will you listen to our confession?"
She smiled and nodded, gesturing to one of the open doors around the room. "I would be happy to."
"Dinner was delicious, Purdie. I'm so happy."
"You're welcome, Hachiko. I'm glad you were able to come."
"Oh, please, let me do the dishes."
"Nonsense, you're a guest, you sit tight. Besides, Dekin isn't letting me do any work these days. I'd like to show I'm not totally dependant yet."
Eight wanted to insist but her maid training told her that pressing further would be rude to her hostess, so she relented.
"It's not like I'm treating you like you're helpless," Dekin insisted from the other end of the table. "But you have to be careful. Remember how we almost had to tie Fulvia to a chair when she was eggnant with Cortina?"
Purdie gave him a sour look. "Are you saying I'm as bad as her?"
"No no, I'm just asking you to have a little perspective."
"Dekin, I know my limits and believe me, I remember how difficult Fulvia was, so you don't have to worry about me."
In something of a huff, Purdie carried the dirty plates to the sink.
Three, sitting on Eight's left, closest to her father, displayed a summery green to him. Dekin's mantle showed yellows and mixed reds in response. He appeared somewhat aggravated, but Purdie seemed equally aggravated with him. Eight couldn't doubt their love for each other, they had raised Three, after all, but she was surprised how much conflict could be added to the relationship by the coming of new lives. For Eight, who had been conceived, hatched, and raised as part of a highly regimented system, this was whole new territory for her.
"How much longer till you lay your eggs?" Eight asked.
"A few months yet. Inklings have to gestate for a long time. I don't know how it is for you."
"It varies a little bit. Usually, the more eggs one has the longer the gestation period. I know that I gestated for eleven months."
Purdie visibly cringed. "Eleven months? Even Cortina was only eight."
"Only eight?" Dekin asked. "You and Fulvia weren't saying 'only' back then." He looked Eight squarely in the eye. "She was so determined to get the egg out of her that when the time finally came, she practically launched Cortina out."
Three actually grinned. "I was just a spicy egg."
Eight smiled. "Somehow I'm not surprised you took a long time. I'm sure the Sovereign God took his time making you."
Three shrugged. "Callie and Marie were both fifteen months." Then, grinning, she added, "I'm sure Mama couldn't have been as bad as Silvie was, though."
Eight grimaced. "I suppose not, but I've never met her. I only know her by reputation."
"Who's Silvie?" Dekin asked.
"Marie's mother," Three replied. "She used to be an enforcer."
Dekin made a distressed face. "Her husband must be really something."
"Isn't his mother a matriarch?" Puride asked from the sink.
"Yeah, but he's more the softspoken type. I mean, he's not a pushover or anything, he just doesn't assert his dominance as much."
"I'm sure Silvie appreciates that," Purdie said. "And not for the reasons you might be expecting. Being an enforcer, I think the last thing she would want after a day of work is to come home and deal with more conflict. A comfy mate is nice to come home to."
Eight smiled, imagining coming home to Three wearing an apron and having dinner ready, just like the dramas she watched while she cleaned the penthouse. Only, Three can't cook. Well, nobody could be good at everything.
She saw Three looking at her, suspiciously. "I would not be a comfy mate."
"Awww, I'm certain you will – what's the phrase? Mellow with age?"
Thee pouted and glanced away. "I don't think a lot about the future. I'm too busy trying to get through every day."
"It's like that when you're young," Purdie said. "I certainly wasn't thinking about starting a family when I was your age. After I left home and met your mother, I didn't even think I wanted a family. Then your father had to come in and be all charming and ruin everything." She grinned at Dekin over her shoulder and he smirked back.
"Not like I did it on purpose. I'm just naturally charming."
Purdie flashed burgundy, but it was mixed with spots of warm orange and rosey pink. Eight was barely able to make out those colours but living with inklings for so long she had started to notice those subtleties.
"You're sixteen now, Cortina," Purdie went on. "I know you're still young but you should be thinking about the future a little bit. You can't be a bodyguard forever. Sooner or later, you'll want to have a family of your own and you'll want to devote your time to them. You can't let work become your life, or you'll end up feeling like you've never lived."
Eight could get behind that sentiment. It was similar to the reason she and so many other octolings deserted the army and fled to Inkopolis, the promise of not just a better life, but a life of greater meaning. But most inklings, even Three, didn't have that perspective. She had devoted herself entirely to Callie and Marie, and supported their cause. It was admirable, even Octarian in terms of devotion to the greater whole, but she too would eventually desire something more.
She reached over and gently squeezed Three's hand. She knew she was more worried about the upcoming battle than anything years in the future, but maybe having a personal goal wouldn't be so bad. Three gently squeezed back and managed a small smile.
"I'll be fine, Iya," Three said. "But before I lay my own eggs, I want to make a world I want them to be hatched into. Once I can do that, then I can think about my own future."
Purdie sighed, her mantle pulsing blue. "Well, just don't try to do everything yourself."
Three met Eight's eyes and the latter felt her cheeks warm. "I'm not alone. That's how I know we'll make it happen."
It was lights out in the orphan's hall. Miazama didn't even try to sleep, she tossed and turned relentlessly if only to try and burn off the excess energy. Instead, it only seemed to make her more restless.
She thought about the old turf, tried to imagine what it was that was supposed to happen tonight. She hadn't been privy to the details but she knew it was important and it affected the old turf. She couldn't just leave it, she had to do something.
Miazama glanced around the room, which she shared with sixteen other girls. Most of them had started falling asleep almost immediately. It had been about an hour since light's out. Maybe now was a good time.
She slowly climbed out of bed, replacing her covers carefully and positioning her pillow to make it look, from a distance, like the bed was still occupied. She didn't expect it to hold up, but it didn't have to for long.
She slipped out of her pajama shirt and shorts into her outdoor clothes. Now, she needed to find a way to sneak out of the orphanage hall.
The door had an electronic trigger which set off some kind of alarm somewhere if the door was opened after lights out. Fortunately, the door and floor were old enough that it was no longer perfectly level, leaving a tiny gap near the middle of the door just barely big enough for a girl her age to squeeze through in squid form.
It was a bit of a struggle but, after almost a full minute of wriggling, Miazama's squid form popped out into the dimly lit corridor where she reformed her inkling body and trekked softly down towards the coat room. If she was going to be going out, she would need her shoes.
There was only a single light in the coatroom itself, and if she were to turn it on, one of the priestesses or acolytes would be sure to spot it during their patrol. Miazama had to rely on touch and memory to find her badly worn pair of sneakers.
Now that I 'ave these, how'm I gonna' sneak outta' –
Her thoughts were cut off when she heard soft footsteps enter the coat room with her. In her surprise, she accidentally bumped into one of the other shoes, creating a small noise.
Squit!
"I know it's you, Mia," Tephilla's voice whispered into the darkness.
"Tephy? What you doin' 'ere?"
"Not tattling on you, if that's what you're worried about."
Mia bit her bottom lip. That had actually been her first thought, that's the sort of thing Tephilla would normally do. It might not be a bad way to get back into the good graces of the priestesses.
"Look, I can't stay, not with what's goin' on tonight. I know we don' know exactly what's gonna' 'appen, but it's about the ol' turf, so I can't just stay 'ere. I 'ave to do somethin', I 'ave to be there."
Tephy stepped closer and shone a little red light from her hand onto the shoe rack, locating her own pair of shoes.
Mia frowned. "What are you doing?"
"I'm coming with you. I actually know how to get to Work Detail from here so you need me."
Mia blinked then narrowed her eyes. "Why would I go there?"
"Remember how they were all gathered there when we were first brought to Tani for our sentence? They'll probably do that again. If they gathered in Xapheerell, the crabs would notice."
Mia frowned. The logic was… surprisingly sound, at least, she found it difficult to refute completely.
"How do we get out though?" There probably aren't any easy gaps like the one under the bedroom door."
Tephy gave her a hard stare. "You tried breaking out without even knowing how?"
Mia flushed. "Well, do you know a way out?"
Tephy flashed green, her humboldt heritage making the display visible in the dark, and slipped on her shoes. "Yes. Follow me."
Mia was somewhat hesitant, but if Tephy was going to get her in trouble she would have done it by now. But why did she want to sneak out too? They were bound to get into huge trouble tomorrow when they came back. What would motivate her enough to be willing to face that?
Tephy brought them down an adjacent hall near the offices. From there, they managed to slip into a locked room where they found a window that was slightly cracked open. Using squidform, they were able to get through it and reformed once they landed on the grass outside, where they took off across the temple grounds and down the street.
Once they'd gone a full block, they both stopped to catch their breath in the alleyway next to a bakery.
"It'll take us… at least an hour… of jogging to get to Work Detail from here," Tephy panted.
"It's that close?"
"It is if we avoid the major streets and take a few shortcuts. Of course, once we get there, we have to convince Tani to let us go with her."
Mia put a hand against Tephy's chest and gently, but firmly, pressed her against the alley wall. "Before that, I need to know, why are you comin' too? Why do you wanna' go? I've got the ol' turf to think about, but you got nothin.' So why?"
Tephy met her gaze, eyes hardening. "When we were told we had to 'serve' Tani, didn't you expect her to treat us like trash?"
Mia bit her lip and, after a moment, flashed green.
"It's what all of us would have done, so of course that's what we expected, but she didn't. She made use of us but she didn't treat us like garbage, she treated us like normal people, even after what we did to her. You even got to see your 'ol' turf' again, without worrying about the crabs. Do you think any of us would have done the same?"
Mia frowned deeply. She wanted to say 'yes' but she couldn't, and she couldn't bring herself to say 'no' either.
"We can't stay in the temple forever. Even if we become acolytes, we have to, eventually, go out and live on our own. That's what I'm afraid of most, Mia, being on my own and not knowing if I can trust anyone."
"And you think you can trust Tani?"
Tephy crossed her arms. "If she didn't even take advantage of me at my lowest point, when she had all the advantages possible, then shouldn't I be able to trust her every other time?"
She gently pushed Mia's arm away. "I wasn't like everyone else in the orphanage. My parents didn't die or end up in prison, mine abandoned me. I was unwanted. And when the other orphans found that out, they didn't want anything to do with me either. Only the priestesses and acolytes cared about me, so of course I trusted them. I know the rest of you thought I was a suck up, but nobody gave me any reason to be anything different."
"Until it bit you in the funnel," Mia observed.
"And Tani didn't hold it against me. She moved on instead of holding a grudge. Isn't that something you want, Mia? If you have to be under someone's authority, wouldn't you rather it be someone like that? Maybe the gods' punishment was a blessing in disguise."
Mia hadn't thought about that, but given she had been doing a lot lately to help the old turf, maybe Tephy had a point.
"Alright, I get it. Fine. They'll probably start whatever it is they're gonna' do soon, so we need ta' get there quick. Lead the way."
Tephy nodded. "Fine, but I've only seen the route on a map. Things might get tricky."
"If the trip there is the worst we have to deal with tonight, we're lucky."
And the two took off running.
Four had rarely seen so many people packed into Work Detail. The main room was crowded and alive with excited and nervous chatter. Every octoling, clad in their army uniforms, checked their gear, and reassured each other as they prepared themselves for what might be the biggest fight of their lives.
Four battled a wave of terrible guilt that swept over her. This problem had existed in Inkopolis before any octolings arrived, and while they considered it their city now, it felt immoral for the newcomers to take on so much of the burden when it was the born residents responsible for letting it get this far. She felt like they were using the octolings as a tool, leveraging their hopes for peace and a better future for their people.
On the other hand, she had to remind herself that the crabs were the ones who threw the first punch and attacked the octolings directly. Murder was a rare thing in Calachora in general, so those cases tended to be pretty personal. And regardless of all the other reasons, that one reason alone was probably enough for the octolings to want to do something about it. Four just wished they could have gotten it the proper way, with Inkopolis Security bringing them justice as they were meant to. As an inkling, Four couldn't help but feel some measure of shame for all their society's failures.
"Four."
Four was ripped from her inner thoughts and looked at Marie, who regarded her with disapproval.
"You're not focusing. Don't start doubting now, right before a mission. How often do I have to tell you this?"
Four hung her head, her mantle turning white with blotches of pink. "Sorry."
Marie rested a hand on her hip. "You've been like this ever since you got back from visiting your family. You used to jump in with no questions asked."
Four pouted. "That just makes me sound dumb."
Marie smiled. "Not dumb, that's just how some people are. I suppose you might have been a little bit naive, but you've matured a lot." She gently rubbed her head, and Four felt warmth spread through her. "Just try to be focused. I'm sure I don't have to tell you why, by now."
Four flashed red and Marie removed her hand, just as her phone chimed with a message.
"Callie?"
Marie examined the message and flashed green. "Yes. She met up with the Octarians at the border. She's loading them onto the busses now. Hopefully there won't be any problems."
"Who does she have with her?"
"Vella and Eight are both there. Eight alone should be more than enough to keep them under control. Oh, and it seems some of the officers they selected have worked with her before."
Four frowned, her mantle rippling brown. "You mean when she was hypnotized?"
"If it means they'll obey her orders and won't cause trouble then it works for us. What about your splatoon? Is it assembled?"
Four looked back towards the octolings, the group directly in front of her was her splatoon, Forty-Three octolings in all. "Yeah, just checking gear. Three hasn't said anything more yet." She grinned. "I bet she's worried about Eight."
Marie grinned back. "I'm sure. She won't let it bother her though. She'll be focused when the time comes." Her phone chimed again and she nodded at the screen as she read the message.
"Looks like everything's ready with Scylla too. Once our buses are here, we'll get moving."
Callie and Marie had chartered buses to move everyone to the deployment zones. Apparently, neither was worried about the bus drivers knowing too much or even being suspicious about what was going on.
"Three!" She yelled out. "Make sure everyone's ready to go. The buses should be here any minute."
Three acknowledged with a salute and then flashed purple at Four. Four felt a lump rise in her throat, old anxieties bubbling up, but she forced them back down. She wouldn't fail this time. She couldn't afford to.
Her splatoon already stood in formation, weapons held at their sides, awaiting her. She shared a look with Marie, the older girl giving her a small smile before departing to her own unit.
Four stepped up to her Splatoon, Gamma-Three. One octoling, her 2IC, stood in front, the only member with her weapon held across her chest. She saluted as Four stopped in front of her.
"Ma'am, Splatoon Gamma-Three is checked and ready."
Four saluted back, absent-mindedly. Honestly, if not for Captain Cuttlefish, she probably wouldn't have learned how to salute properly at all.
"Okay. Um, I guess we'll just wait for the buses to show up. There should be enough room for one Splatoon per bus. We'll have to wait to see which one is ours."
"Of course, "Ma'am."
Four frowned internally. She wasn't used to all this formality. Honestly, it made her a little uncomfortable. She didn't really know these particular girls very well either. None of them were among those who had tried to kill Three, which was a plus, but it meant that she probably hadn't seen them among the car enthusiasts either.
Her 2IC was a girl named Kina, whom Four was certain she had never met directly, but Kifi had recommended her. On top of that, Four had never worked with a team bigger than five in combat. Would she really be able to handle them all?
Quit thinking about your own problems, idiot. Focus on your team, what are their needs?
Four looked at the faces of her splatoon, noting the tension and anxiety in their expressions. They were all trained soldiers, with varying degrees of experience, but nobody needed to be told just what a risk they were all taking. She needed to do something to lighten the mood.
"Um, so, like I said, the buses will be here soon. Anyone who hasn't used the bathroom better go now or you're gonna' have to hold it 'till we get there."
That seemed to lighten the mood a little bit as a few of the girls cracked nervous smiles. Four was glad.
Yeah, that's a little more like me, that's what I would do. For the first time in over a week, she felt a little like herself again.
Four heard a commotion and turned her head just as Tephy and Mia slid out from the loading dock into the warehouse in squid form before reforming. In less than a second, they were surrounded by octolings armed with splatershots. They certainly had guts pulling off a stunt like that, but what were they doing here?
Four made a holding gesture to Kina and stepped over to investigate herself. The ring of octolings made way for her.
Mia and Tephy were both kneeling, arms slightly raised and mantles white in surrender. They saw Four approach and their eyes lit up.
"I know we probably aren' supposed to be 'ere, but we… we 'ad to come."
"We can't explain it. We just… we had to come."
"You… had to?" Four frowned deeply, trying to read between the lines. Did someone send them? Could it actually have been –.
Marie came up beside her and stared down at the two. "Do you really want to involve yourselves in this? Does the temple even know you're here?"
Tephy looked somewhat hesitant but Mia stood up straight. "Cursed right we do. Dunno exactly what's goin' on but it's obviously important and we need to be 'ere."
Marie kept staring at them, looking directly into Mia's eyes. Eventually, even Tephy managed to stare back.
"You're entering a dangerous world that will involve you two keeping a lot of secrets and doing some things you could get in very serious trouble for doing. Are you sure you want part of that?"
"Yes." This time it was Tephy who answered, and her eyes lost all uncertainty, replaced with a firm resolve. Mia flashed green with agreement. Marie stared for several more seconds with cold, calculating eyes.
"Alright, fine. As it happens I have a job for you, one that only you two will be able to do."
The two girls looked surprised, and so was Four.
"The buses are here," someone called out.
Marie instantly turned and addressed everyone. "Alright, everyone get loaded. Splatoon leaders, find out which bus is going to your designated location and get your splatoon on it. Hustle, move!"
The octolings spurred into action, including the ones who had been guarding Tephy and Mia, leaving just the four of them.
"You two will be coming with me and I'll tell you what you will be doing." She leaned closer. "It's very important, and if you two mess it up, you'll wish you'd run back to take your punishment from the priestesses. Understood?"
The two girls flashed a pale green and Four grinned to herself. They really did have no idea what they were getting into.
Avrika fought down a chill that had nothing to do with the cold. She and the rest of what they were calling the Inkopolis Expeditionary Force, stood in formation near the area they had been retrieving scrap from earlier in the week, in a patch of open ground along the street. Standing in front of them, silent since their arrival, was Callie.
A look from the black and magenta inkling was all it had taken for the officers to put the troops in formation, as if her commands had been transmitted through sheer willpower. Dressed in an all-black bodysuit, her golden eyes seeming to glow in the dark, Callie projected the image of a deep sea predator, combined with the presence and commanding aura that could match even Lady Sever. The gaze from those eyes felt like spotlights in the dark as they swept over the formation and only briefly touched on Avrika and her two escorts. Another moment of silence passed before Callie spoke.
"Octarians, tonight we save the people of Inkopolis, the ones who have shown the Octarians kindness, mercy, and compassion; from the ignorance of their leaders. In doing so, we will prove that we are still a nation capable of standing on the world's stage. By fighting the battles here, we will protect the domes from a threat that looms larger every day. I won't bore you with the politics but just know that Inkopolis is serving as a bulwark against invading nations. By saving it, you save your homes, your siblings, your friends, your mothers."
She paused then she crossed her arms. "Octarians, today we stand at the crossroads of destiny. We are here not to wage war, but to fight for peace. The actions and conduct we show today will determine the future of the Octarian people. After today, the Octarians will not have to grovel at the peace table, but instead, a humbled and indebted Calachora will receive us as we stand proud and tall, as an equal. They will see that no matter how small our nation appears, the size and strength of our spirit never diminishes!"
The company let out a hearty cheer that reverberated amongst the buildings. It had only just occurred to Avrika that Callie, as a legate, was technically also Octarian. And Callie's speech left Avrika inspired but also shaken.
Despite being a former enemy, despite being an inkling, the sheer power of her charisma and her words had, in a single speech, given the expeditionary force ample motivation to carry out their duties tonight, making them want to do what was needed rather than simply following orders. And Callie had just helped ensure that her own orders would be less scrutinized.
Callie's serious expression finally broke into a smile.
"Alright, here's how tonight is going to work. I'm sure you've already been briefed on the general plan but I'll fill you in on the details. Before that though, I'll introduce a couple of people to you." She gestured to the side and a pair of figures emerged from the dark into the illumination of the street light.
"This is Hachiko and Vella. Splatoons 2 and 3 will receive one of them to act as a guide and advisor. Listen well to their advice."
Avrika felt her soul soar at seeing Vella. It was such a relief to see her alright and so healthy. The girl had clearly filled out since she started living in Inkopolis, and the uncertainty she had heard about also seemed to be gone, replaced with resolution and assurance.
Callie went over the broad strokes of the plan, advising them of some of the small changes that had been made, and then began reminding them of the crab's weak spots before the buses appeared.
Had she not seen the Ar-Vee Callie had entertained her in previously, Avrika would have thought the buses were the most grand vehicles she had ever seen. Their clean, shiny exterior, the simple but elegant colours, and the large amount of glass they sported made them look like mobile palaces.
Avrika boarded the third bus in the line, trying not to stare at the jellyfish diver who looked as baffled as any creature she had ever seen. He was probably confused and intimidated by over fifty armed octolings coming onto his vehicle.
The interior of the bus appeared just as elaborate as the exterior. The seats were narrow but comfortable and new-looking; the interior was lit just enough to give them light without spoiling their night vision, and windows offered a wonderful view of the outside.
Kalisha and Aishi sat in the seats across the aisle from her, looking like a pair of excited children. Vella was the last to board the bus, and Avrika patted the seat beside hers. The second Vella sat, Avrika threw her arms around her and wrapped her in a tight hug, her heart soaring at seeing her former subordinate, safe and well.
"I'm so glad you're alright," she whispered, fighting back tears.
Vella, initially stunned, slowly hugged her back, her fingers grasping the fabric of her cloak as she buried her face in her chest. "I - I'm also glad to see you again, Honored Mother. I've missed you."
"I'm sorry. You must have felt so alone."
"I did. Until recently, I didn't know what to do, I didn't know where I stood or what the reality of the situation was. But I understand now, and I'm grateful for what you've done for me."
"And I'm glad I have someone on this side that I can truly trust."
"Thank you," Vella whispered. "I am glad you still trust me."
"Of course."
The bus started to move, it's quiet rumble a stark contrast to the rattling cacophony of most octarian vehicles. As they passed through the city, the sights became all the more dazzling. Bright flashing lights, glowing signs, and the brightly lit spire of Inkopolis Tower had everyone pressing their faces against the windows in awe.
"I wonder if Octarian cities will look like this in our lifetime," Avrika mused. "So many bright colours and lights, so many tall buildings."
"Most of this didn't exist 100 years ago," Vella whispered, leaning against Avrika's shoulder. "So, I'm sure it will. We just have to succeed here."
"You believe in what we're doing?" Avrika asked. "Many in the Ravalda believe we shouldn't be involved."
Vella bit her bottom lip, but her eyes hardened at the same time. "Those crabs tried to kill me, for no other reason than for walking in their territory. They even seemed to prioritize me over the inklings. Then there's the murder of a fellow octoling who was simply walking home. Callie and Marie are right, they will come after us eventually. They seem to fundamentally hate us."
Avrika nodded. "Well, I guess I feel a bit better then. Let's just hope this doesn't somehow blow up in our faces."
Vella said nothing but she didn't need to. It was the hope they all had.
Marie found Scylla's reaction to the arrival of Alpha Company amusing. She had already been impressed by the size of her Beta Company but the arrival of the even larger Alpha with Callie in the lead seemed to push her over some kind of threshold.
"Just how much money do you two have?" She muttered as Alpha Company formed up.
"Enough," Marie replied simply. "But they also have their own reasons for being here so they're not exactly mercenaries. Besides, we aren't the sort to do things halfway. Speaking of which, I have to take care of some things. Excuse me."
Marie signaled through tuk'yan for Tephilla and Miazama to follow her, and approached the Ambassador as she got off the bus and stood off to the side with her bodyguards. She saw her approaching and bowed her head.
"Tenz Ivot, Marie."
"Likewise, Ambassador Betanuss. I imagine you'll be watching the operation from afar?"
Betanuss nodded. "As I said before, I need to see what happens for myself."
"Of course. Then I have some help for you." She gestured to the two younger inklings next to her. "This is Miazama and Tephilla. They'll be your guides. Xapheerell Ward may be part of Inkopolis but it can still be dangerous and I thought it would be a good idea if you had a pair of guides to help you get around, explain things, and deal with any potential issues with the locals."
Betanuss looked at the two inklings and then slowly nodded. "I see. Thank you, I'm sure that will be helpful."
"They can help you find a good vantage point to observe and answer questions for you. Best of luck and I hope you can stay out of trouble."
"Of course. May fortune find you in battle."
"Thank you."
Marie bowed her head and left them, heading directly for Callie.
"Hey, Marie," she greeted brightly. "What's with those two girls you brought? Aren't those–."
"Yes, they showed up out of nowhere at Work Detail and basically saw everything. I figured we might as well use them for something to, hopefully, keep them out of trouble."
Callie grinned. "Oh? Did our girl leave some kind of impression on them?"
Marie's face finally cracked into a grin. "Yeah, that's probably part of it." Her face turned serious and brought her voice down to a whisper. "Are you doing alright?"
Callie gave her a questioning look. "You're asking me that? You're the one who's had it the roughest."
Marie winced. Keeping the old beast under control had been especially difficult the past couple of weeks. Her hand fell to her pocket where she was keeping a handful of protein bars to help her get through the night. Hunger aggravated the beast on top of yun'brennen.
"I'll be fine, as long as things don't get too out of control."
"Don't jinx it. Gramps always told us to prepare for the worst as best we can."
Marie pulsed grey. "We've done everything we can. Let's just hope we've done enough."
Callie gave her a wry smile. "Then shall we get started?"
Marie flashed green, mirroring her smile. "Let's."