Chapter 10

Yet another day…

I was playing piano in the lounge again. How many days have passed, I'm not entirely sure, haven't kept count…

After a bit, I could notice what looked like officers coming in to take some of the troops out.

"Hey-uh…is something happening?" I asked one of the officers.

"Nothing you need to know, Inkling." She somewhat rudely answered.

Not sure if she was ordered to not answer or if she's just naturally rude…I just shrugged it off and went back to playing for now.

Later…

I had to leave for more work and after that I ended up back in the Commander's office. I just got back to doodling.

He seemed busier than usual. I could see lots of paperwork.

"What's going on?" I asked. "You seem busier than usual."

"Very observant." He replied, in an almost sarcastic tone. "If you must know, there's an incident going in Octo Canyon and I have to expand military operations there."

"Is that why I saw some troops being moved?" I wondered.

"I see you've noticed that too." He nodded. "Yes, we need more troops down there, but I suspect the situation will be resolved soon."

"If I may ask…what kind of situation?" I was curious.

"Hm…" He seemed to be thinking. "Well, it seems that a sort of mutiny is happening. I'm sending troops to quell it."

A mutiny…? About what?

"What's the mutiny about?" I decided to ask more questions.

"Well…" He paused, probably wondering how much to tell me. "We believe it is an attempt by a Commander to Usurp power. I trust my Lieutenant will be able to subdue the traitors with minimal loss of life."

"That makes sense…" I shrugged. "I'm sure it wouldn't be very good for any of you if you were all fighting each other."

"Exactly." He nodded. "This…petty, selfish squabbling…what we need is to work together as one."

"…To what?" I sat up and looked at him. "Start a war?"

"Incorrect." He replied. "I'm trying to end a war."

"End it?" I was confused. "But there hasn't been a war in over a hundred years."

"That is also incorrect." He set his pen down and leaned back, looking at me. "While it is true that Inka and the Octarian Empire have not engaged in open war in over a century now, no official ceasefire, nonaggression pact, or armistice was ever signed between the two nations. Technically, we are still at war."

"That…is weird logic…" I replied.

"Is it?" He asked. "So far, we were in a cycle of preparing for a war that would never come for the longest time. Then, two years ago, our leader finally took action and got captured. Not too long ago, it happened again. Though I respect Lord Octavio, I'm not going to have our race be stuck in never-ending cycles of failure and stagnation as our homes continue to deteriorate. I'm going to end this war quickly, efficiently, and if all goes to plan…minimal loss of life."

Huh…when he puts it like that, he doesn't seem like a bad guy…but still…squidnapping me shows he's willing to get his hands dirty to get what he wants…and his near monotone way of speaking tells me that he's done worse than what I've seen…

"…I looked at records…showing what Octarian society was like before the war…and you know what?" He looked at me more intently. "…I didn't recognize it…our attitudes were different…our ways were different, our clothes, our architecture, our art, everything…we've fallen so far and abandoned our identity so much in the name of our survival in these domes."

"If you're so desperate, then ask the government for help." I told him.

"We don't need their charity." He responded. "If we go there, pleading for help, even if they don't shoot on sight, we'll be degrading ourselves into an utterly helpless species begging for kindness that they have no reason to bestow on us. Even if the inhabitants are willing to lend their assistance to the cowards who abandoned the rest of us doesn't mean your politicians are willing to lend aid. They'd have to find a place to move an entire species to."

"So, what's your suggestion?" I asked, not really confident that he'd give me a straight answer.

"My suggestion…?" He leaned forwards. "Simple…take back what's ours and establish ourselves as a force that's here to stay. I don't want to start any more wars, but I will not have my people continue to suffer out of sight and out of mind."

I just stared at him. Take back what's theirs? What does that mean? Does he mean their land? Didn't they lose a chunk of it? Does he mean their pride? I don't understand…

This Octarian…I feel like I'm learning so much, yet so little all at once…

I understand his motivation…and his goals…a little, anyway…but I get the feeling I'll never know the how in his plans…makes sense…I'm just his hostage after all.

He got back to his paperwork, likely having spent enough time talking to me already.

I decided not to bother him while he worked…

Eventually, I was taken back to my pod. I decided to write what I knew compared with what I still want to know in my sketchbook.

Let's see…what I know would be:

Sieg's motivation.

A little of how he runs his settlement.

A bit about some of those close to him.

Now, what I don't know would be:

How he plans to supposedly end this war and save his people.

How exactly he became the kind of octopus he is today. He's definitely hiding something considering his dedication to his cause.

The photos on his wall.

Hmm…there's that…as well as that only half of his personal squad is here and I haven't even met all of them…

Well…questions for another day, suppose.

I set my sketchbook under my pillow and got under the blanket.

Soon enough, I dozed off.

Author's Note: After an eternity, a new chapter! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting. Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of things soon.