Author's Note: Back at it again. Special thanks to Ceenic from Yume's server for giving me an appropriate name for this organization you're about to see soon. And now…to the chapter.
It was another day in the Square, Inkilings and Octolings milling about and going into Turf Wars, like how it was every day. The shops conducted business as usual, selling their myriad wares to the Turf crowd. Among the crowd were the Agents, on mission to intercept a kidnapping, acting on Marie's intel.
The Agents on mission were Jesse and Shannon, blending in with the crowd but ditching their usual gear so no one gets an idea who they are.
"Jesse, is that our mission?" the younger Octoling asked the veteran Agent, gesturing to a short-haired Inkling with a Purple Novelty Visor, a Black 8-bit Fishfry, and Cream Basics.
"Yes. Carbon Roller main, Rainmaker player." Jesse answered, analyzing a mug of the subject. "Now…about those abductors…Sheldon and Marina said they'd be also disguising themselves as Turf players, and given how much the general public can be idiots…" she sighed.
Jesse went for her original Hero Shot 1 this time around, while Shannon opted for the Hero Dualies, as to optimize their movement, which would be crucial in times like these. Soon enough, the ruffians showed up, wearing different shirts, but all wearing bandanas and caps. The three would-be-kidnappers discreetly made a beeline for the unsuspecting Inkling, oblivious to the kerfuffle about to happen.
Soon enough, the ruffians made their move and the Agents sprung their surprise. Shannon rolled onto the ruffians' way, while Jesse socked another who was about the grab the clueless Inkling. The crowd gasped at the sudden fight breaking out, some fleeing away from the action while some stayed in the shadows watching the fight play out.
"Thanks!" the Inkling shakily said, clearly surprised about the action going on. She then ran off to hide in Headspace. Shannon and Jesse then squared off against four ruffians, wielding Splattershots and a 96-Gal.
The fight didn't take long for the ruffians, as they were easily routed. Shannon weaved around the shooter ruffians, while the 96-Gal poorly dealt with the force that was Jesse. In the spate of a few minutes, the fight was over for the ruffians, ending with four ghosts flying and retreating after respawning.
The crowd soon cheered, coming out of the shadows, the ruffians repelled. Everyone was relieved that a kidnapping was prevented right under their noses. Some rogues however, were waiting in the shadows, training their sights on the two Agents. However, they were far too sharp for that tactic and socked the remaining rogues and splatted them both.
Later when the Square returned to its normal state, the two reported back to HQ. On the way there…
"I wonder…why are they doing this?" Shannon asked.
"Hmph. They're looking to further what they did to me." Jesse scoffed. "And make an army full of both Sanitized Octolings and Inklings." she sourly commented.
"There must be more facilities like the Deepsea Metro." Shannon thought. "The mere thought of it…its frightening…" she shuddered slightly.
"I wonder…has Four arrived yet at base?" Jesse lazily asked.
"He and One were on a mission…probably much like ours." Shannon speculated. "I can't even begin to imagine what the families of the victims feel…" she sadly thought.
"Agreed." Jesse said dryly. "They take, take, and take till nothing is left…just like my home when I went home after my first Turf Match." she began narrating.
"Horrible! To be greeted by such sight after what may be the happiest day of your life!" Shannon softly exclaimed. "That's why you work all those Salmon Run shifts, right?" she offered.
"Yes." she replied in the same dry, emotionally cold manner. "Since that day, I have been working my hardest to avoid Celia falling into the wayside." she sighed. "Having Cap around eased things a little, since I got a trusted adult who I can entrust Celia to when I'm not around." she told Shannon.
"Celia has started turfing, yes?" she asked the older female Inkling.
"Yes. Said she met Evan and this Josh dude her first match." she off-handedly replied. "Defended her from some jerks they went up against." she added.
Soon, both unloaded their cab and walked to the trailer park where their HQ was stationed. They later entered to see Pearl and Marina discussing things while Sheldon was testing prototypes of new weapons, perfecting their mechanisms.
"Back so soon, Agents Three and Five?" Cap greeted the two female Agents.
"Probably some hired thugs, nothing more." Jesse dismissively said.
"They retreated as soon they were splatted." Shannon added.
"Come lassies, let's discuss this." Cap beckoned them to the table, where Marie was waiting. The four of them discussed the happenings of the kidnapping they averted.
*Meanwhile, in an undisclosed island base…
Ships were unloading in the base's port, carting off dozens of unconscious teenage Inklings, no doubt wearing whatever they were wearing last. Sanitized soldiers were overseeing the delivery, from the port to the labs.
In the lab, there were rows and rows of vats of unconscious cephalopods. Said cephalopods were in various states of Sanitization. There were also rows of bodies lying on beds, being looked at by various scientists.
In another facility, the completely sanitized subjects were being tested for their faculties, to see if they're completely following their orders, and to see difference between Inkling and Octoling physiology.
An imposing figure, who seemed to be beyond Elite, walked into the laboratories. All the scientists paid attention at once, when they saw her inspect the surroundings.
"Status report?" she imposingly asked.
"We have had some progress, Commander Stormsurge!" squeaked a jelly. "We have been able to fully Sanitize Inklings!" he excitedly announced.
"Take me to the demonstration area." She commanded the scientist. They soon walked over to the testing area, where various Sanitized Inklings were firing varied weapons, including prototypes. Commander Stormsurge and the scientists observed their specimen, making comments here and there at various times. The commander was pleased with what she saw, although noted several aspects and suggestions.
"Impressive work." The commander finally spoke up. "It does need some fine tuning though. For one, The Inklings' movements are some ways off from their original selves." she told the scientist team. "Secondly, they seem to be quite underdeveloped at this stage." she commented. "That'd be all, carry on and do not disappoint me or The Council." she imposingly told the researchers.
She then went on to her personal office. As expected of a high-ranking Sanitized Elite, her office was sharp-looking, clean in every corner. Soon, a pair of Sanitized soldiers reported to the office.
"Report?" she lazily questioned the two soldiers.
"Commander, our acquisitions got intercepted!" reported the first soldier.
"By who?" asked the Commander coldly.
"Two females" answered the second soldier. "They dispersed of the squad in mere minutes." she reported. "An Inkling and an Octoling." She finished.
"The Splatoon." Commander Stormsurge scoffed. "Retrieve the target, and get out of my sight." she coldly dismissed the two soldiers. The two did as asked, and immediately departed to Inkopolis.
"That blasted Squidbeak…Not the best to report to the Council." she sighed. "Regardless, we have a decent shipment today of Inklings to Sanitize." she mulled over. "Hmm, time for Octavio to cook up again one of those Octoweapons."
She then opened up a hologram screen, then pressed a button in her command hub, and soon enough, the DJ/Leader of the Octarians' face showed up.
"Commander Stormsurge!" greeted DJ Octavio. "What's cookin, weird lookin' but good lookin'?" he remarked.
"I would need…another of your Octoweapons." she stated simply.
"You got a slimy hipster problem again? DJ Octavio, happy to dubtstomp these pesky fools!" he rang out boisterously. "Meet me in Octo Valley, and enjoy the show while you're at it." he bantered at the Sanitized commander, who looked bored with him.
"Sure." Catalina responded in a bored tone. "Also, DJ, I need more of your Octo-power." She told the DJ in a monotone. "We need more specimen." she curtly told the Octarian leader.
"I'm the guy for that, Cat!" Octavio perked up at Catalina. "If you want, I can do it right the shell now!"
"If you must." she answered in the same monotone she had been using. "That'll be all, see you in Octo Valley, DJ." she bade him farewell.
"Right then, time to compose their memorial album!" bade DJ Octavio. His picture then soon fizzed out as he said that, indicating he did shut off his end of the call.
"Silly guy. But I gotta say, in a good way." she mused to herself. "He would definitely be the best to lead those Octarians." she continued. "Not as efficient as the Sanitized, but it's commendable." she mused on. She then opened her command hub and sorted through her mail, going over the various mail from all over the chain command, from supplies, training, to science, and many more, typing as fast as possible in all efficiency.
*Back at the NSS headquarters…
Callie and Four arrived, looking a bit exhausted, but otherwise fine, the duo heaving their bag of weapons and gear, bantering happily to themselves.
"That was a cinch!" said Evan.
"Agreed, but we did intercept a kidnapping." Callie smiled. "Though…that left me hungry, and we didn't stop for lunch…" she groaned, at the same time her stomach did.
"Oof, now that I think of it. Hey, say we grab some grub and get back to here? We do have to report to Cap, you know." Evan remarked, dropping off their stuff.
"Yo, cuz, be grabbing some chow!" Callie called out to her cousin, who was practicing her aim.
"Don't have too much fun!" Marie joked, lining up another shot. The two then departed for the nearby food shack, putting on their disguises so as to avoid being mobbed. While the two were walking…
"So, how did your homecoming go?" Callie asked Evan.
"It was nice seeing my little sibs again…the folks…not so much." Evan sighed at the last bit.
"Hope you patch things up with your folks soon. I'd like to meet them!" Callie chortled.
"Not the best of in-laws, that's for sure." Evan scoffed. "Remember, they don't like your Calamari Inkantation, among other things." he reminded her.
"Shame." Callie sighed. "Oh, we're here!" Callie perked up at the sight of the complex of food trucks nearby. They then headed into separate trucks, buying all their desired grub, meeting up on the exit to make their way back to the base.
"So, tell me about your family, Evan." Callie implored Evan.
"About them huh? Well, we're clearly a prominent family, about what, I am not so sure about." he scoffed. "I mean, have you seen the manor and everything? he added.
"Hmm. I'll guess you were hella pampered back before you came to Inkopolis Square…and saved me from my own folly." she speculated sadly.
"I guess so, though it definitely came at a price." Evan sadly sighed. "Rigorous training, schooling…didn't have classmates until I was twelve." he lamented. "And then, my great move to the Square happened."
"Luxury at a price? Sounds awful." Callie sadly pondered. "And from your own parents too."
"And top it all off, they have…an extreme view about the Octolings being in Inkopolis." he grimly mused. "Mom and dad meet these shady men every few nights, along with some distinguished looking ones." he narrated.
"Ok, this is definitely getting interesting." Callie pondered, as they approached the HQ.
"I do wonder, how are Ross, Ewan and Amelia holding up though…" he sighed, as they entered the trailer home that is also their HQ. "I'll tell more later Cal, ok? Gotta report what transpired." he informed Callie.
"Oh right! Cap is indeed waiting for that." Callie was suddenly reminded. Immediately, they set down their lunch near the Captain and ate, while they shared the details of the operation.
*Meanwhile, in Inkopolis Square…
The first of many a new broadcast of CoralStar was upon the populace once again, as it struck noon once more. Soon, the screen flickered to life, as the broadcast started by flashing their logo, the fading away to reveal the gals themselves.
The stages were revealed to be Walleye Warehouse and Manta Maria for Turf, and Skipper Canal and Port Mackerel for Ranked and League, which gave to Ecca's skills, as she excels at those stages.
"Good turfing for today, don't you think babe?' she asked her blue partner.
"Me thinks so." answered Josh. "It's always good with you by my side."
"Oh you joker." Ecca laughed. She for today brought the Octobrush Nouveau, while Josh brought along his Tentatek, the latest weapon acquisition for him. Both Octolings headed into Deca Tower, along with many other cephalopods doing their Turfing for the day.
In the background, Fabian is observing the couple, malice in his smile.
"Hmph. You think you bagged yourself a girl huh? You will wallow in despair soon, Catfish, you philandering squitch. Just you watch." he bitterly smirked, holding his Heavy Splatling. "In the meanwhile, I've got another target to deliver." he mused, surveying the crowd. He had his sights set on a male Inkling this time, which was holding a Splat Charger. "Personally, I can't give two squits as to who runs this city." he scoffed. "Well, in the meanwhile, I'll enjoy all this city has to offer." he smirked, heading for the Deca Tower lobby.
Meanwhile, Josh and Ecca headed together to the Ranked lobbies, hand in hand, carrying their respective weapons. Both looked up to the current mode in play.
"Hm, Tower? Interesting." mused Josh, tapping his Tentatek.
"So then, what's the plan, hotshot?" Ecca smiled at her blue companion.
"You take Tower, I'll run interference with whatever meager skill I got." Joshua playfully deprecated himself. Ecca smiled at this.
"Relax Josh. I got this." she assured him. "For whatever amount of time I can." she jokingly added. Both took the escalator to the Ranked lobbies. They soon entered a room which had two more people waiting, who had a Firefin Charger and a Grim Range Blaster with them. Both sat down at a nearby couch, watching the ongoing battle, in Skipper Canal.
"This looks like a promising fight." Ecca remarked, setting her eyes on the action.
"Hmm. No one side is clearly winning." Josh observed.
"Hopefully, I don't get a potato team today, I do need my rank to stay afloat." one of the persons in the lobby sighed.
Both Josh and Ecca chuckled a little hesitantly to themselves.
"I sure hope I am not a potato today." Josh muttered to himself seriously.
"Don't worry, you're not the only potato." Ecca assured Josh, fiddling with her Octobrush.
Soon, few more people entered the lobby, including a certain pink-haired Octoling male wielding a Splatling…Fabian. At the sight of him, both green and blue Octoling shot up, recognizing the person from last night's date. Fabian heaved the Splatling into position behind him and sat down on a couch near where Josh and Ecca were sitting.
"Fabian!" greeted Ecca.
"What brings you?" asked Josh.
"Got yourself a girl, I see?" observed Fabian. "Not like she's gonna last long, knowing you." Fabian smirked. Josh scowled a little.
"I'mma splat him if he does that." Ecca retorted. "Otherwise, he's too decent for that." she told him.
"Hmph. Hope you don't have to, Ecca. It'd be a shame if you got fooled by some Propaganda Group prodigy." Fabian replied, throwing shade at Josh, lookin at him sideways.
"Fabian, please." Josh retorted. "I only flirt when I don't I have a girl. Which is clearly the opposite now." he sternly told him.
"Peh. Whatever." scoffed Fabian. Soon, the match in the monitor ended, and the signal has been sounded, declaring that their match is about to begin. Ecca and Josh, along with the two Inklings they arrived on earlier took one side, while Fabian and the recent arrivals took the other.
Fabian's side had a Splat Charger, a N-Zap 89, and an Enperry Dualie user. Both teams passed through the coloring shower. Just a moment later, both teams rocketed off to Snapper Canal, where the match will take place.
Ecca, Josh, and their allies are yellow for this match, while Fabian and his allies are on the other side in purple. The whistle blew, and both teams gunned for the tower. Ecca set one Beakon somewhere in the hidden reaches of the middle, where the Tower is being contested. Joshua, meanwhile, was fighting with the Enperry user, while being gunned down by the Splat Charger. Fabian was targeting the opposing Firefin user, compromising their situation.
While all of this was happening, Ecca sneaked off and swam into the Tower. Once the Tower moved however, all of the opposing team piled all their effort onto removing the female Octoling from the mobile carriage. Josh, along with the rest of the team, set out to hunt the offending players.
"Protect the Tower at all costs!" barked Josh. The two teammates other than Josh did their best keeping the Tower moving, getting it past the first checkpoint. However, it proved too treacherous when both Fabian on the Heavy Splatling and the Splat Charger picked off Ecca first to stop the Tower from moving, then splatted all who attempted retaking it, including Josh. All of the team was wiped out, but that didn't deter them.
"He plays for keeps huh?" Josh bantered with the Grim Range user.
"Agreed. The Grim would catch em next time." he assured him. "What's your name, Octo?" he asked him while inking, then swimming along for mobility.
"Josh. You?" he responded.
"Ezio. Lauren's with me, with the Charger." the Inkling responded. "Nice to meet ya." the twin-tailed male cheered, as he engaged the N-Zap. That same moment, Ecca had Super-Jumped around Joshua's proximity, smiling at him once she turned back to humanoid.
"I see you made friends already!" Ecca said to him cheerfully.
"Have to, if I wanna win this." Josh replied. Both dashed towards the oncoming Tower, which was now held by the enemy. Fabian lorded over the Tower with his Splatling, gunning down any who dare come close, accompanied by the Enperry user.
"Lauren!" Josh called out to the short-haired girl on the Charger, "That's you right?" he asked her.
"Yep, that's me! Need someone taken down?" she called out from the perch, picking her target.
"Confuse the enemy so they can't see us coming!" he told her, while dodging a Charger shot. Both him and Ecca moved on, not even waiting for Lauren's reply.
"Understood!" Lauren called out, setting her sights on the Heavy Splatling. In retaliation, the Splatling user Fabian let out an angry torrent of enemy ink, but it was nothing Lauren couldn't handle. However, his Enperry buddy was making the task difficult for Josh and Ecca, as Ecca was getting outmatched by the Enperry blow for blow. Josh was being harried by the N-Zap now, while also being targeted by the Splat Charger user.
Things were definitely heating up in the match, with 2:35 remaining in the game clock. The purple team still had the tower, but was losing grasp slowly to the yellow team. Because they were now on the defending side, Josh and friends were using the walls to their advantage. Soon enough, they muscled their way back into the Tower, but the score was perilously close at 52-50, with only a slight advantage to the yellow team that can crumble any moment the offensive goes wrong.
Josh this time took the Tower, while Ecca swept their surroundings to ambush anyone attempting to retake the Tower. She was surprisingly good for the task, ambushing both backliners. Josh and Ezio intercepted anyone who dare try going after Ecca. Lauren also helped with defending the tower too from her post.
Time was a precious commodity, and there wasn't much left in the match at just a little over a minute. Fabian was getting frustrated, and was directing every other offensive at Josh, letting his distaste for the blue Octo show. Adding to that is the fact that retaking the tower is their only shot at winning it, with the score now at a teetering 40-38, with a 30 point penalty for their side.
Ten…Nine… Josh dodged the deadly whiz of Fabian's Splatling, diving in ink to avoid crucial shots that could have put him out of the match.
Eight…Seven… Ecca landed a splat against the Enperry user who was making a desperate break for the Tower, which was only a little ways off the center point of the arena.
Six…Five… Ezio was struggling against the N-Zap, and was promptly splatted not long after. Lauren was battling against the opposing Charger user.
Four… Fabian threw out a Sprinkler in hopes of chipping out Josh, which it did, but wasn't able to fully capitalize, as Josh barely made it out alive.
Three, Two, One… Ecca dashed to climb up the ladder faster, along with an opposing squid. Time stood still as everyone was desparately hoping that someone of their color stepped on the tower first. And as soon as someone did, the whistle blew.
Both teams swam over to the judges' area eager to see who won the match. Judd declared it in favor of Josh's team after what seemed like an eternity to both teams. The yellow team let ut a sigh of relief, while the purple team let out a groan.
"Sheesh, we dodged a bullet there, hun." said Josh to Ecca, kissing her on the cheek.
"New couple huh?" said Ezio to him, hugging Lauren in response. "Yeah, we a couple." he nonchalantly added, much to Lauren's chagrin.
"Oh you…" Lauren snickered. "But yeah, we are a couple!" she confirmed, kissing Ezio on the cheek, which made the male Inkling blush.
"We definitely got to go another round." Ezio told both Ecca and Josh. All three, including Lauren agreed. At that time, Fabian approached the opposing team, particularly Josh.
"Well, well, nice job there, Catfish." Fabian opened, shaking Josh's hand. "I'll beat you next match though. And that will be a fact." he smirked at him, heaving his Splatling while hardening his grip on Josh's hand. Josh did not budge, tightening his own grip on him.
"It's on now, Purplemist." Josh said calmly, hiding the tension in his voice. Ecca, Ezio, and Lauren observed the tension between the Octolings, ready to move if a fight breaks out. The two stared down each other as they went back to their spawn points.
Damn, that became larger than expected. Hopefully, I'll be able to put out 25 not too far after January. I'll probably have only one chapter out for February, and maybe a oneshot, possibly a lemon. Otherwise, that'll be it. Chrono out.