Chapter 4
Two Days Later…
Another day of labor…
Perhaps I can-OW!
That Octoling again!
She ran away again.
I ran after her.
I managed to tackle her to the ground.
"Get off of me!" She shouted. "Help!"
"Stop throwing things at me!" I shouted before being pulled up by Octoling guards.
"What happened here?" One of the guards asked.
"She tackled me!" The lesser Octoling told them
"Do we have to teach you a lesson, Inkling?" The guard asked.
"What?" I was shocked. "No! I-"
"What's going on here?" A calm voice asked.
It was Sieg.
"Commander!" All of the Octolings saluted. "The Inkling assaulted this Octoling."
"Why?" He asked me.
"I tackled her because she keeps throwing things at me every time I try to work!" I told him.
"Hm…" He turned to the Octoling I tackled. "Is this true?"
"Of course n…" She then got nervous as Sieg stared silently at her. "…Yes…I have…"
"And why?" He tilted his head.
"Because Inklings are the reason for all of our suffering!" She told him.
"Right…" He nodded his head. "And what does throwing things at this single Inkling accomplish?"
She stopped, surprised by his question.
"It…" She looked down. "Makes me feel a little better, I guess…"
"I see…" Sieg approached her. "So because you feel tormented, you think tormenting someone else will solve your problems?"
Her eyes were darting, clearly not knowing how to answer.
"Tormenting someone will only bring resentment." Sieg told her. "Keep doing this and she'll lash out, you'll likely end up injured, and only have yourself to blame."
She looked as if she was about to say something, but just nodded her head.
"Another thing is…" He continued. "This Inkling is important. She is not to be harmed, but not given special treatment either. You…and all personnel…are to treat her as just another worker. Treat her as anything else and you will be reprimanded. Is that clear?"
She nodded her head.
"Good." He turned to the people around us who were clearly watching. "And the same goes for all of you."
They nodded their heads and returned to work.
Sieg then turned to leave.
"Um…" I walked over. "Thanks…?"
He stopped and turned to face me.
"For what?" He tilted his head. "I was just enforcing my orders. We're a respectable force, not monsters. Despite the 'Menace' name your kind has given us."
"I wasn't even aware of any of this!" I told him. "Call me ignorant, but I'm being mistreated for things that have nothing to do with me!"
"This does have to do with you." He corrected me. "Your father has resources we need and you're our bargaining chip. Despite the circumstances leading to it, you are doing our species a great service."
He turned to leave again.
"Wait!" I grabbed his arm.
He immediately shoved me back and I hit the floor hard.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He hissed before regaining his composure. "…I…don't like it…"
He then left without a word.
…What was that about?
I could tell people were looking at me, a bit unsettled, but not surprised that happened…
Is this well-known?
Perhaps I should…no…I'll mind my own business…
Later…
…I wonder how father's doing?
He must be worried sick…
Perhaps I can convince Sieg to allow me to speak with him…?
No…that thug surely won't allow it…
I should find some hobby here to make this slightly more bearable…
But wha-
"GRAAAAAAYAAAAHHH!" I heard someone screaming.
I hurried to see what it was and some panicking Octoling came rushing out of a door straight into a wall, almost running into me.
…Why is he not dressed?!
"What happened?!" His eyes were darting around, and then he looked at me. "What's going on?! Who are you?! WHAT'S GOING OOOONNN?!"
His legs suddenly gave out and he fell to the ground, hyperventilating.
"Gracie, put him under!" Elise shouted. "Quickly!"
Sure enough, that Gracie girl rushed out with a needle and jammed it into his shoulder. His breathing slowed and he passed out.
"I told you not to try walking yet." Elise told the unconscious Octoling. "I'm not even sure if you have full control over your body's motor functions yet."
"He can't hear you." Gracie reminded her.
"See?!" Elise seemed excited. "It was a success! No one can deny my medical genius!"
"But for how long will it be a success though…?" Gracie wondered. "We should monitor his-"
"What's going on?" I asked.
Elise looked excited to tell me, but Gracie covered her mouth.
"Not your concern, Inkling." Gracie told me. "Now, help me get him back on his bed, Elise…"
They grabbed the underdressed Octoling and carried him back into that medical room.
That…was random…
I should just continue on…
Even Later…The lounge…
"So is there something I can do to pass the time?" I asked the bartender.
"Well, here's usually where people in the corps go to find a hobby." He told me. "There are places where civilians gather, but from what I gather, you aren't allowed in those areas."
Right…
I looked around.
Wait…
"Is…that a piano?" I asked.
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "Occasionally we'll find someone who can play it, but it mostly goes unused."
"May…I…play it?" I really wanted to.
"Sure." He shrugged. "As long as you're decent."
I am.
I walked over and revealed the keys. I noticed several Octarians looking at me, a few eyebrows raised.
I stretched my arms a bit and got ready.
What song though?
…
I know…
I started playing an old song.
It was a calming song…
It was a nice song…
It was my mother's…
I continued to play it for a few minutes.
It was a soft, soothing, calming song. I would usually play it when I was stressed. Even though I don't remember much of her, it made me feel like she was there…watching me…
…
Watching me…
I turned around to see the Commander sitting in a chair, leaning forward, looking like he was intrigued by what I was doing. The other Octarians looked surprised to see him there.
"…What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I heard the piano being played." He answered. "It doesn't get used often so I was curious to see who was playing it."
"Perhaps I should stop." I started to get up.
"You don't have to." He replied.
"I was playing that song for me." I told him. "I will not perform for my captor."
He seemed to be thinking.
"…Very well." He got up. "I'll leave you to play, then."
What?
He's just leaving?
Why?
I don't understand these people at all.