Author's Note: So I took a few liberties with both Hero Mode locations, opting to make this chapter set in Octo Valley, and no, not just because it's be too suspicious if Marina & Pearl went down the grate. At least the Inkopolis Plaza site is a little bit more safer...
Without further ado, enjoy!
When the duo resurfaced in the Valley, they arrived to quite a quaint sight. The cabin was a tent complete with living quarters for the captain himself. A table has been set up nearby, with pictures and documents strewn nearby. Weapons are neatly hung up in racks, according to class: shooters on one rack, chargers on another, and rollers occupying a different sort of rack.
"Well, if it isn't the whistle-blowers themselves.", Marie remarked as the duo arrived.
"I saw the whole thing, Marina!", said Agent 4, still catching his breath slightly in exhaustion.
"You finally did it, huh?", said Agent 3, poring over some documents and footage, with her Hero Shot 1 at her side.
"Yes, guys, we did.", said Marina.
"YOU WHAT?", said a very angry octopus in a snow globe: DJ Octavio. The former Octarian overlord/DJ's eyes enlarged in rage at what he heard. After all, Marina was one of her finest when she still served, and she was one of those who oversaw his wasabi supply back then. But the damn Squid Sisters happened. Twice.
"Good grief, Ock, can't we just forget about all of this fighting nonsense?", piped up Callie, just finishing what she was doing in her phone.
"SHUT UP BOTTOM FEEDER! YOU SQUITS ARE THE REASON WHY US OCTOLINGS ARE CONFINED BELOW THE SURFACE FOR EONS!", Octavio bellowed at the sound of Callie's voice. "And as for you, Craig Cuttlefish.", he said menacingly to the retired elderly tactician, "this ain't over yet. The whole world will be ruled by Octolings once more, and you shall do naught but submit! ", he said, before facing away the motley crowd.
"Now then, shall we begin this meeting?", said Cap'n Cuttlefish, facing his Splatoon, ignoring his rival's ranting.
"Aye, captain.", said Marie, taking her place to the right of her grandpa. Callie was to the left, with Agent 3 and 8 on her side while Marie's side has Agent 4, Marina, & Pearl. "We have received reports that Octolings were sighted once more at key spots in Inkopolis.", Marie began.
"But, I thought I splatted all of them trying to find Callie?", said Agent 4.
"There were the regular flavor Octolings, and there were those weird blue-green Octolings. But even the regular ones are... off.", continued Marie.
"Those sanitized goons ain't just splatted yet huh?", said Pearl.
"Like, they were everywhere in the Kamabo Corp. facilities where I...awakened.", said Agent 8, her purple eyes shifting places.
"Oh yeah, about you 8!", said Callie. "We talked it over with Marie and grandpa, and said that 8 does not suit the Splatoon anymore.", she said.
"Am I... getting fired?", said Agent 8, shocked.
"No! You are just gotta get a rename!", Callie said happily. "You are now officially Agent 5, Shannon Triheart!", she said with a gameshow host tone.
"I kinda figured, I just... named her for convenience since "10,008" is too much for conversational purposes.", squeaked Cuttlefish's olden voice. "But since you are one of the Splatoon now, you, young girl, shall fall in line along with the rest of my Agents here!", he finished.
"Guess you are Five to us now, huh?", said Pearl.
"Actually, I only recently knew my name.", Agent 5 stated. "My actual name is Shannon Triheart!", she announced excitedly, as delight lit up Agent 4's face. He was wanted another name than Eight, and got more than he asked for.
"Whoa, you got an actual name?", said Agent 4.
"Yes, Four.", she replied happily.
"And that won't be all!", said Cuttlefish. "We shall formally welcome the two newest additions to the Splatoon!", he squeaked, age lacing his speech. "Come then, young ladies, introduce yourself to your new team!", he beckoned Marina & Pearl.
"Are we doing this now?", said Agent 3, making no effort to disguise her boredom and disdain at the idea of introducing herself again.
"Come on Three, loosen up!", said Callie, ever the energetic people person.
"Aw well, as if.", Marie sourly commented. "Trust her with taking on enemy Octarians but not with socializing.", she said. "And hygiene.", she said to herself, not interested to let Agent 3 hear.
"Oh, are we doing it?", Marina shyly asked the group. "Right then, Marina Ida, former Octarian engineer, soon-to-be former Inkopolis News anchor.", she stated herself.
"Pearl Dorry right here, sir! Dropping them bars on the enemies, making them memories!", Pearl said, rapping as per custom.
"Agent 1 aka Callie Cuttlefish reporting for duty!", said Callie, posing with the Hero Roller 1. Unlike the regular version, Callie had installed pink lights on her model, instead of the usual blue.
"Agent 2 aka Marie Cuttlefish, freshest aim in the Splatoon.", said Marie nonchalantly, holding her Hero Charger.
"Agent 3, aka Jesse Seaspray, first recent recruit of the NSS.", said Agent 3, showing no effort to socialize with the rest of her team.
"Agent 4, aka Evan Current, Jesse's successor.", he introduced himself. Callie blushed at him, paying homage to the fact that Evan saved her from Octavio's clutches in his run at Octo Canyon.
"Right then, onto business.", said Jesse/Agent 3 in a businesslike tone. "The attacks were reported close to the turf centers in Inkopolis.", as she pulled up images of Octolings ready to attack The Reef. "Mass Octarian sightings were reported by civilians massing near rural areas.", she continued, as she pulled up more photos. "Eelville.", as she pulled up a picture of Octotroopers guarding a warehouse. "Akula County.", as she produced a photo of Octosnipers on towers, with a group of Twintacle Troopers marching below. "Seafront.", as she pulled up another picture, this time of an Octolauncher resting in his saucer, guarded by both Octotroopers & Twintacle Troopers, hovering over a series of fish farms.
"Those Kamabo freaks have expanded their business?", Pearl said, noticing the tell-tale green skin and blue-green tentacles. "But, their boss is gone!", she said, and with good point: she Mega Killer Wail-ed the damn blob and his doomsday weapon to death.
"What the fudge are those doing here?!", said Evan, as he noticed another picture on the table, this time of a quartet of Octolings with various re-purposed weapons guarding an incoming shipment. "This is near Lina's town!", he said, aghast, him recognizing the warehouse the picture was taken.
"While Callie and I were about to close the house for the night, some random person threw a Splat Bomb at the house. Good thing both of us evaded the blast, but when we investigated, we felt something odd...", she said, trailing off.
"Like, our color was fading the moment we dipped just one of our fingers into the substance. It was definitely not Octoling or Inkling ink.", said Callie. "Good thing Marie managed to get a sample for Sheldon to analyze.", she finished.
"Here were the remains of the Splat Bomb.", said Marie, producing a sealed plastic pouch, filled with rainbow colored fragments. "This either wasn't an ordinary Splat Bomb.", she told the assembly.
"Nothing like that matches Octarian arsenal too.", Marina said, squinting at the fragments. "Used to also run quality control for the weapons too.", she said, answering the group's unspoken question.
"Octarian types found in both Octo Valley & Octo Canyon are in on this jig.", stated Cap'n Cuttlefish. "This Octostriker, for instance", as he pulled up a news clipping picking up an Octarian saucer above an Inkling city.
"Myself and Agent 4 got into skirmishes with these guys in our surveillance missions.", said Jesse. "There were enemies I didn't recognize and Four here had difficulty recognizing some of the enemies.", she stated.
"Like, what the heck are those rolling dudes are?", said Evan.
"The most difficulty still is Evan here doesn't recognize the Squid Sisters.", Marie quipped jokingly.
"Well, there was an opinion against you guys back home, before I got into the Square.", said Evan. "My folks were ranting about how you were bastardizing the Inkantation for the millennial and such, and shall be boycotted. Well, they are conservatives.", he said. "And as for my siblings...yeah. They're the reason I do not know about you.", he finished.
"Oh... what?", both Callie & Marie looked at Evan in shock. Nobody, not even Cuttlefish, their grandpa, complained about Calamari Inkantation.
"I figured. Grandpa was a cool grandpa.", Callie said.
"But, seriously, even older squids appreciate our Inkantation.", said Marie.
"Anyway, back to business, buckos.", Cap'n Cuttlefish said to his Agents. "Now to delegate tasks to our new Agents...", looking at Pearl and Marina. "Miss Ida here, she's designed many weapons that Agent 3 does surely remember.", he said, Marina earning a suspect look from 3.
"You mean to tell me Cap that a popstar designed those monsters?", asked Jesse dourly.
"I'm sorry Three, should've told you about this as soon as we were finished with that Kamabo kerfuffle we got ourselves into!", he squeaked. "Anyway, she'll sure be liking to work with our resident scientific genius, Sheldon. Unless of course you have objections?", he asked Marina.
"Well, the only objection I have is his overzealousness when he explains stuff.", said Marina. "But I can't deny the crab-man's genius.", she said, nodding at the idea of her working with a fellow weapons expert.
"You and Sheldon shall be our science duo! Our R & D if you will!", Cap'n declared.
"Guess I'll be Seven then, cap?", Pearl said.
"Well, all of except Sheldon and myself will have ink combat roles.", he quipped, holding on to his Bamboozler cane. "I mean, a hundred & thirty isn't exactly the same as sixteen or twenty-one.", he said, scanning his companions.
"Well, back to your old job then I guess, Marina.", Marie commented.
"This time, I'm not designing weapons to obliviate.", she said, which made Octavio scowl in the background. "I'm sorry, your former Spicy Majesty.", she said to his former boss inside the snowglobe.
"Oh don't be apologizing to that loser!", Pearl chided her friend.
"He is still my former superior.", Marina said calmly.
"...what the hell is that?!", said Agent 5, as a stray ink shot grazed her face.
"...My equipment ain't faulty yet!", said Agent 4, assuring the group.
"Do you hear those voices?", said Marie, picking up distant chattering.
Suddenly, a trio of flying saucers appeared, guarding an unidentified craft that was shaped like a manta ray, which had triple harpoons at it's underside. All harpoons aimed at the base of Octavio's snowglobe and soon chaos ensued, as a missile headed straight for the shack was homing in.
"Someone see that?" said Evan, squinting at the sky.
"Everyone, get ahold of a weapon real quick! That's an Inkstrike!", said Marie to the now engaged group.
"I'll guard grandpa!", said Callie, already brandishing her Hero Roller 1, beckoning her grandpa to accompany her.
"Don't let Octavio escape!", Cap'n Cuttlefish called out to his agents. There was a scram for the weapons, while the rest were busy strapping hastily Ink Tanks and picking up whatever weapon they found. Jesse/Agent 3 held fast to her Hero Shot 1, while Evan/Agent 4 picked up a spare Jet Squelcher and a dated ink tank. Marie already had her Hero Charger 1 splatting a few of the advance guard, which are some Octocopters and a few Deluxe heading some groups. Marina settled for an aging Splat Brella, but did not find an Ink tank, while Pearl just settled for a three-fourths-filled Splattershot.
Octolings were already rappelling down Saucer # 1, revealing 8 regular Octolings in Neo Armor, while the accompanying 2 Elites were using an older set. They were already rampaging down the first kettle from the cabin.
Octavio was already dangling in the air straight for the central craft's bay when Jesse jumped to the globe, landing barely on the globe. She was trying to somehow gunk the harpoons but to no avail, as she instead just held on to the inked harpoons, in squid form.
"Free again, Inklings! Bwahahaha!", Octavio taunted Agent 3, which had jumped back to the cabin to rejoin her colleagues.
Meanwhile, a fierce battle was raging right at the Cabin. Marina and her Splat Bella held station at the front of the Cabin grounds, blocking enemies from penetrating. Evan engaged anyone whoever comes close to breaching Marina's shield. Pearl & Shannon, who copped a Rapid Blaster Pro and an ink tank, meanwhile took care of flankers with whatever limited ink she had, guarding Marie, who sniped the Octocopters like a shooting gallery.
"All of you, switch to orange, now!", Marie ordered the agents, as she shifted colors herself. She already had inked a trail upwards, positioning herself on top of the shed.
"Copy that, Two!", Evan acknowledged. Marina's tips duly turned orange to match the whole fireteam doing the same. Pearl did also the same for her tips, her weapon reacting to the color change. Several Octolings with the standard Octoshot are engaging both Pearl and Shannon, with a few of them wielding Blasters.
"Blasters!", Shannon yelled as one explosive glob whizzed past her, erupting just a few centimeters behind her.
"I see Chargers too!" said Marina. "On the Elites!", she called out. The Elites did not follow much the ordinary Octolings into battle. Long trails of dark fuschia ink joined in on the action, along with the fire of the Octo Shots & Octo Blasters. Marina's Brella held off offending Octarian shots long enough for Evan to attempt to splat at least one of the Octo Shot wielders.
Pearl meanwhile, was using her miniscule height to her fullest, effortlessly dodging the Octolings's shots, diving in the ink in between shots to refill her weapon. Shannon already made short work of one of the Blaster wielders, using the fire rate discrepancy to her advantage. All those trials in the Deep-sea Metro are paying off big-time.
"Octo-commanders!", called out Marie, still busy sniping out Octocopters trying to flank them from the behind. Six of such Troopers holding splatlings in their mouths joined in, their shades gleaming in the noontime sun.
"Those things will barrage us to no end!", said Shannon, still engaging an Octoling, which was yelling words such as 'traitor' and 'weakling'. Purple streams were starting to strafe the struggling team.
"These things get tired blowing their squit after a while!", said Evan, covering for a re-inking Marina, submerged behind Evan. She resurfaced later and resumed position, her shield unfolded once more. Suddenly, a roller user popped out of the hatch and joined the fray: Callie.
"You guys are no fun!", said Callie, zipping around in her Hero Roller 1. The remaining Blaster & 2 Octo Shot users turned their attention to the Roller-using former popstar.
"Why, I remember you, Callie Cuttlefish!", an Octoling on the Blaster leered at Callie. "You performed for & with our Lord DJ, right? Oh, I remember, because I SAID so!", she jeered at Callie, swinging her Roller to flick a deadly wave of orange at her.
"You squits squidnapped me!", yelled Callie. "And I had a lot to do but clearly you were too busy enacting revenge on the Splatoon...", flared the ribbon-tentacled girl. "I lost my movie contract because of all the squit you pulled on me!", she yelled, flicking her Roller at the enemy.
"You lot are too damn frivolous for your own good!", yelled the Octoling on the Blaster. "Hah, every week or two a holiday? Tardy retards.", she said dismissively.
"How about you don't gaddamn plot revenge every waking hour for a war you lost a whole century and more ago?!", blurted Callie back, as Shannon was covering her, keeping the Octo Shot gals busy.
"The Inklings aren't what we were taught!", said Shannon, pleading for some sort of reason.
"Heh, of course, the traitor speaks for the coddlers!", said the Octoling on the Octo Shot, as she tossed an Octo Splat Bomb, glaring at Shannon.
"You are too narrow-minded, Maia! ", said Shannon.
"That's because I'm more oriented and capable to get a mission done.", spat Maia. "You? You were weak against me all those scrims! You can't 1v1 me in all those matches, always asking for assistance! Haha!", she boasted at Shannon.
"Strength is so much more than what you defined!", yelled Shannon, firing back at Maia with her Rapid Blaster, the explosive glob popping just above the Octoling soldier's head. "Not all strength is measured in combat you know!", she said, while still firing at Maia.
"Says the one who's a weak combat operative!", insulted Maia. "Combat is all the matters to the Octarian race and splatting the squidiots to oblivion is our ultimate mission! But you had to join them!", she ranted, "Just because you were too weak to Calamari Inkantation!", she yelled as she threw a Splat Bomb, which prompted Shannon to dodge to her right.
Over at Evan & Marina's side of things, Marina was furiously blocking the shots from the Octarians, protecting everyone from potshots from the invaders. Because Marina did not have an Ink Tank, she was reduced to spraying huge shots from her Bella in between shielding rounds.
Evan was already close to splatting another Octoling on the Octo Shot. The soldier clearly remembers Evan's run of Octo Valley.
"Agent 4! It'd be an honor to splat the squid who brought down Octavio & brought Callie back!" she jeered at Evan. Evan however, had no time for petty words.
"Sorry, who are you? You folks all look alike.", Evan said, incensing the amazon.
"Nobody, that's who.", Marina suddenly said, blasting the Octoling with the Splat Brella point blank ruthlessly, which was quite unexpected for someone who spent their life on the labs.
"Whoa there Marina, they're your former comrades, you know?", Evan said to Marina, shocked, throwing a Splat Bomb, to pass the time he's re-inking.
"Not anymore.", said the Octoling DJ, continuing to blast torrid showers of ink at the remaining enemy Octolings.
"We are tired of the lies!", piped up Shannon, who was just done splatting another enemy Octoling, chasing after the remainders. "The war is over, can't we cephalopods just get along? ", asked Shannon, gesturing frantically at the soldier.
Maia, overran, decided to call in help.
"Mayday, Mayday, this is Alpha One to King Manta, requesting assistance immediately!" radioed Maia to her companions in the skies.
"Copy Alpha One assist inbound.", said the voice on the other end.
Suddenly, the craft apparently called King Manta sprouted a quartet of evil and bigger version of the Tenta Missiles from its body, firing off immediately, making a beeline for the embattled New Squidbeak Splatoon. They used the distraction to signal her two remaining allies to Super Jump back to the saucer to fight another day.
The NSS, scattered by the Tenta Missiles, ducked for cover behind whatever they could find. Both Shannon and Evan were taken in by Marina under her Brella, while Pearl and Marie retreated into the inner canopy of the shed. Callie was a trooper, rolling in the face of the raging missile storm, inking wide paths for everyone to hide in, narrowly avoiding three missiles. Toxic mist swirled in the aftermath, which was choking up everyone, all of them losing color.
"Everyone-cough-into the-hack-hatch!", said Marie, attempting to speak through the toxic mist, switching back to her regular lime, which was losing it's luster. Marina fended off the mist with her open Splat Brella, swathing a clean path for the Agents. Marie chucked the hatch opening to let the Agents inside.
"Get in, Two! I'll hold this hatch up.", urged Evan to Marie, his gentlemanly instinct coming to the forefront, while Shannon was clambering in.
"The fumes, they'll be onto you!", said Marie, as Pearl slid in.
"I'll be fine! Now get on in!", argued Four to the ailing popstar.
"Where's Jesse?", wheezed Callie behind Evan, as the fumes still rage on at Cuttlefish Cabin.
"Into the hatch, Callie! Now!", urged Agent 4, resisting the fumes as much as possible.
"Ahehehe...here I am again...in your arms once more.", Callie sniggered, as she was losing her grip on the Hero Roller 1. Evan heaved both user and weapon down the hatch, tucking his Jet Squelcher on his hip. He has managed to heave Callie in when a deadly whizz of Octarian purple nearly shot through Evan.
"Damn squits won't quit.", Evan said, closing the hatch down after Callie barely made it down. He heaved himself to face a quartet of Octolings & Elite Octolings, who had just thudded in front of him, and Octocommanders, which were positioned around Kettles #1 to #2. Suddenly, out of the dissipating mist, a familiar figure has just morphed to action: Jesse. Aka Agent 3.
"Hm, now to earn our pay, shall we?", said Agent 3 jokingly to Agent 4, her Hero Shot 1 in hand. Both Agents went after the remaining Octarians to repel their assault, resolve burning in them, in face of the dangerously outnumbered battle they're about to go to.
After-Chapter Bits:
I am now expanding my sea names to real-life/fictional naval crafts. One such example would be Akula County, named after the Akula Submarine, the Soviet naval unit in Red Alert 3. Also, my headcanon would be if you don't have an ink tank, you only have access to your main, and your subs and special will be unavailable to you. Also, ink tanks have different sub & specials than the weapon they're bringing. The ink tanks in this chapter have the Splat Bomb & Bubbled from S1, pretty generic stuff.
And finally! Agents 4 & 3 reveal themselves! Please be noted that Agent 8 will now be Agent 5 from now on in this story.
So...the villain has shown himself. But will Octavio willingly work with this unknown force? Just who are they and what's their beef with the NSS? Find out.