"So you've been acting as an undercover spy?" Agent 1 asked Abigail as the entire New Squidbeak Splatoon, as well as the Elite Five, was gathered at the meeting table in HQ. There were more agents now, at least 13 more, totaling about 18 agents in the Splatoon now, including some of the Turf War players from the Saltspray Rig attack.
"Kinda," said Abby, "I wasn't exactly 'undercover', but gathered information so I could lead a rebellion one day alongside you. I'm glad I found you...well actually you found me and my squad in the middle of a brawl but...you know."
"Yeah," said Smith, "Imagine the things we could create. We can collaborate!"
"That's kinda what we're already doing," said one of the new recruits, Agent 12.
"Anyway," said Abigail, "It's time to spill the octobeans. Octavio has been taking them for reasons that I've questions since he began."
"I thought you said it was for ONE reason!" said Diana.
"It's for a few." Abigail took a deep breath, taking a USB out of her pocket. "I secretly took some pictures of the interior of the Tower."
"The Tower?" said Agent 2.
"It's the Octarian Camp's central tower. It's where only some of the Inklings are being kept."
"SOME?!" Diana exclaimed, "What about the others?!"
"Underground. Right underneath the tower. I'll show you." She plugged the USB into the USB port on the supercomputer, and a loading bar appeared on the screen. "This is what I saw." After a few moments, a picture came up on the screen. It showed containers aliened neatly along the walls, locked in place by slots, with Inklings inside. A few slots had no containers. Vehicles and mechanical arms were everywhere, with Octolings monitoring the area. Everyone gasped at the sight.
"What the-?!" said Jason.
"This is where they keep them. Locked in these containers, the Inklings are forced to watch as others are taken away. But this is the Tower. Here's the rest." Abigail pressed the next button on a remote that Smith provided her. The picture changed to that of an enormous dome, with hundreds of containers along the walls with at least 75% of them fulled with Inklings. There was about a hundred of mechanical arms placed all over the dome. There was a bridge-like platform connected to two exits to other domes placed in the center.
"Oh...My...Goodness!" said Diana in horror. Everyone looked at the image in shock and horror.
"Tell us what they're doing with them!" Nathan said.
"I'll do something better, I'll show you!" Abigail said as she removed the USB and inserted a new one. "This device is connected to some security cameras in the domes, the Tower, and the Mega Laboratory."
"The Mega WHAT?!" exclaimed David.
"This video coverage is LIVE, so you'll see what they're doing real-time and with sound!" Abby turned the coverage to a camera in the Tower. They saw two Octolings looked around, a small aircraft, and an Octoling operating something. One of the two walking Octolings pointed to a slot, labeled 3H, with a container in it. The other nodded.
"Take out 3H," he said in through his radio. The operator pressed a button labeled 3H and one of the many mechanical arms activated. The Inkling inside the container panicked as the arm grabbed the container, pulling it out of the slot and placing it on the small aircraft. The aircraft then flew downwards towards the underground Inkling storage area.
Abigail switched the coverage to one the cameras in the giant chamber. The aircraft pulled up by an Octoling elite, Edith, and the pilot started chatting with her.
"Edith? What's she doing there?" Nathan thought to himself. After a few moments, Edith pointed to one of the exits and the aircraft headed through it. Abby switched the camera to another dome with multiple stations. The dome had green lights that tinted the room green.
The aircraft stopped as another huge mechanical arm grabbed the container and placed it one of the stations. Immediately, multiple smaller mechanical arms and tools started working on the container. They moved and worked quickly, changing and altering the container.
"What's going on?!" exclaimed Smith.
"They're changing the container," said Abigail, "Watch." In about 30 seconds, the container was turned into a new type of container. A large, wide clamp-like restraint was placed around the Inkling's torso, who's face looked as if it were in pain from having it placed on him. Tubes were attached to it and a new lid with the tubes connected to it was placed on the container. Restraints were placed on the Inkling's arms and legs and connected to the top and bottom like cuffs to keep the Inkling from moving.
"What are they doing?!" Nathan said.
"They've turned that container into an ink-draining machine."
"Ink-draining? Why would they need our ink?!"
"They're using the ink to power their machines. We've recently discovered a way to convert Inkling ink into electricity or power as an alternative to Zapfish or oil or stuff like that. They drain their ink sacs until the sac runs dry!"
"And then what?!" Diana asked.
"...It depends. You see, Octavio grew more violent after his most recent defeat two years ago. So naturally, his followers, basically almost the entire Octoling race, got more violent as well. They've come up with a few things to start the Inklings off by using them as slaves." She activated another camera.
"They use them for stuff from harvesting crops at the camp to some hard labor. Sometimes they even put them in very dangerous situations, one time a few Inklings were forced to try and shut down a killing machine that went berserk. Only one lived through that."
"So they're using our Ink as a fuel source and killing us off?!" Diana yelled.
"You're half right. Well...actually...you're right. Once an Inkling's ink sac is recovered, they're put back into a container until the sac runs dry again. Once an Inkling runs out of usefulness, whether they're not strong enough when their sac recovers or if they're disobedient, the Octarians..."
"They what?! They what?!" yelled Agent 2.
"...Let's just say...the light goes out and never turns back on."
"WHAT?!" yelled Cuttlefish as he stood up. "I can't- How could they?! I-"
"They're no longer capturing Inklings, but they may start again. We have to do something!"
"We have to find Octavio!" Nathan said.
"Soldiers," said Cuttlefish, "I'm not normally one to act or say stuff like this...But when we find Octavio...he is going to pay."
"What, are we gonna kill him?" said Agent 9.
"We'll only do that if we're given no other choice. I'm not the killing kind, but I'll do it if I must."
"Octavio may be...difficult to beat," said Abigail.
"Why do you say that?" asked Sarah.
"This is why." She put up a video of an event in an Octarian dome. One Octoling elite was throwing fists at each other for an unknown reason, with multiple Octolings trying to break up the fight.
"Heh! Stupid octopi," said Tony.
"Keep watching. Look to that large door over there." A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a huge, hulking, silver humanoid-shaped exo-suit walking towards them. Its head had glowing green eyes, with a samurai-like helmet on it. The torso was bulky, with glowing green tubes over the shoulders. The torso and arms were very heavily armored and the hands were like gauntlets. The legs weren't as armored, but were still heavily armored. The foot looked similar to the boots of the well-known Power Suit outfit. In fact, the whole thing kind of looked like it, only skinnier and much, much bigger.
A Blaster-like weapon sprang out of the giant mech's shoulder as it walked towards the brawl. It fired an enormous ink blast, stunning the two fighting Octolings and causing them to direct their attention towards the giant mech.
"What is the meaning of this?" The mech said.
"They were fighting over the leader position of our team!" an Octoling yelled out. The mech glared at them. The torso and head opened and the one controlling it jumped out. It was Octavio, but in humanoid form. He was dressed like a heavily-armored samurai, somewhat similar to his giant exo-suit but not as heavily armored. He seemed like he was in his early 30s even though he was nearly 100 years old. He was twice the size of a normal Octoling, towering over them.
"Get back to work! All of you! These two are mine!" He grabbed them by their throats and lifted them upwards. "You two...STOP FIGHTING AMONG YOURSELVES! WE HAVE A MISSION TO COMPLETE!" He slammed them down and hopped into his mech again. As it closed up, he said, "Remember, this will all be worth it in the end." The video ended.
"What in the name of-?!" said Nathan as he stood up. "This is more severe than I thought. When I find Octavio...I'm gonna make him pay! I'll kill him if I have to!"
"We all want to kill him!" said Diana, "Abigail, how many Inkling have died so far?"
"At least a hundred," she answered.
Diana's rage grew. "Everyone! We have to stop him, NOW!"
"Yeah!" said Nathan, "But first we have to find him and get rid of those other bosses and even Nero!"
"Me and Abigail will work on some technology and equipment," said Smith.
"And I managed to snag this," Abigail as she held the second Boss Key in her hands and tossed it to Nathan. "The kettle leads to Tentatek Stadium."
"Tentatek Stadium?!" said Nathan.
"That's the home field of the football team, the Inkopolis Tentacles!" said Diana.
"The Octarians must be preparing a raid there. We need to hurry!"
"Nathan, Diana, Elite Five, and Agents 1 and 2!" Cuttlefish said, "I'm trusting you to stop that raid!"
"You can count on us!" said Jessica.
"Abigail, I'm wondering...why does Octavio look so young?"
"It's a special device. It can turn an Inkling or Octoling younger or older, but what it's usually used for is for turning Inklings into Octolings that are loyal to Octavio!"
"WHAT?!" everyone yelled.
"...I want to see that device," said Cuttlefish, "As the captain...I need to join the fray. Take me to it!"
"What?! Sir, are you mad?!" Smith said.
"No, I understand," said Abigail, "I can sneak you to it. I'll get you revitalized!"
"Alright," said Nathan, "Is everyone ready?!"
"Yeah!" yelled Nathan's team.
"Alright team! Let's move out! Quickly!" The team headed right for the kettle, equipping armor and weapons, and entered.
