On we go. I've been playing a bit of Alpha Sapphire lately.

Chapter Eight

Development

(Octo Canyon)

Julia sat at her desk, thinking over her encounter with the human. His technology was far more advanced them anything she'd ever seen before. She looked at the picture of the ship the human had taken up residence in. It was clear that he would defend the power source with his life. She also knew that he was the one with the technological suits of armor. Inklings didn't have that kind of technology. She knew that after the last encounter, he would have likely found a way to prevent the use of knives. That would not work again.

A knock came on her door. "Come in." Rebecca, the head of the mining division, walked in. "Commander, we found something I think you should see." She showed her a picture, of a red creature, with claws, and a strange marking on its back. Julia looked at it for a moment, then faced Rebecca. "Where did you find this?" Rebecca replied, "Section 17, the new tunnel. One of the new recruits found the chamber it was in. We tried to scan it to determine what it was, but we couldn't get any readings. It's like it doesn't want to be scanned."

Julia thought that over, and faced the mining head. "Return to the tunnel, and await further orders." Rebecca saluted. "Yes, Commander." She left. Julia sat up, and looked in the direction of the human ship. "Perhaps he could help us with this..." Approaching her door, she pressed a thumb to her comm. "Prepare the communication disk, open frequency. I would like to send out a message, personally." The operator replied, "Yes, ma'am." With that done, the Sector Commander walked to the control room, and stepped over to the comm station. "Here you go, Commander." Julia nodded. "Begin transmission."

(Kalos Facility, workspace)

Shawn put the finishing touches on the Mark Three armor, and looked at Matrix. "That should be it. Test it." The armor transformed into a suitcase. Picking it up, he smiled. "That was easy." Matrix spoke up. "Sir, I'm detecting a signal on the open frequency." Shawn faced him. "Octo Canyon?" Matrix replied, "Yes, sir." Shawn sighed. "Audio only." Matrix replied, "Yes, sir." The voice of the commander of the settlement came through. "To the human in the old ship, I request your help. No, it has nothing to do with Inklings. Our mining force found something that we don't understand. Perhaps you can tell us what it is."

Shawn sighed. "Open a channel. Audio only." Matrix did so. "Active, sir." Shawn approached the comm setup. "I'm going to need proof that this has nothing to do with Inklings before I help you." The voice came through again. "We will send you an image of what we found." Shawn muted the comm, then faced Matrix. "Scan the image for malware, computer bugs, viruses, or anything that looks suspicious." Matrix nodded. The image came through, and Matrix faced Shawn. "No malware, computer bugs, viruses, or suspicious data detected, sir." Shawn nodded. "Display image."

Shawn looked at the image on the screen, and gasped. "It can't be..." Matrix looked at the image, and said, "Perhaps you should investigate this matter." Shawn nodded. "Reactivate the mic." Matrix nodded, and Shawn approached it. "I'll be there shortly. Tell your miners to clear the area." He donned the Mark Three armor, and faced Matrix. "Open the airlock on Deck 17." He walked to Deck 17, and launched out of the airlock at full speed.

(Octo Canyon, a few minutes later)

Julia stood on the platform above the surface, her troops standing beside her. As the human came into view, he was wearing a new suit of armor, black in color with gold highlights. He landed in front of them, and faced them. "As you can see, I've been busy since our last meeting." Julia nodded. "I can see that. Your last suit was only damaged when we used a knife, and even then, it barely phased you." The human nodded. "Let's go. I think I know what it is, but I want to be sure." She nodded. "This way." Julia led him through the settlement towards the mines.

Upon passing by one of the power rooms, Shawn scanned it. "You use uranium for a power source?" Julia faced him. "You know the name of it?" Shawn nodded. "It was very valuable at one point in time." Julia faced him, amazed. "What did humans use for power?" Shawn faced her. "We had quite a few methods. We used solar panels to use the energy from the sun, lunar panels for the moon's energy, we could even use water for energy. Even with our advancements, we couldn't stop Team Aqua from doing what they did."

Julia cocked her head. "Who?" Shawn sighed. "Never mind. I shouldn't have mentioned them. Anyway, I do have an idea, one that would solve your power problem, as long as you stop your attacks on Inklings, permanently. This fighting must stop. It's just wasting valuable time and resources, it's ridiculous, and that war you fought over a century ago is basically forgotten by Inklings now." Julia looked at the power room, and then looked back at him. "You say the past doesn't matter?" Shawn rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying that. I'm saying old grievances don't matter."

Julia thought that over. Shawn continued. "You can use Starkonium, a man-made metal, as a power source. I can synthesize it, but you must fulfill my conditions. I'll have the Inklings follow the same conditions." Julia thought that over. "How do you know they'll keep their end of the bargain?" Shawn faced her. "They're not soldiers. They're just kids having a good time. Inklings are lazy to a fault, but they make up for it with enthusiasm." He looked at the doorway. "We should continue on. If I'm right, your kind could be in danger."

Julia faced him in shock as they walked on. "What do you mean?" He faced her. "The object in the image you sent is a chrysalis. It specifically contains a Legendary Pokemon, called Groudon, the Legendary of the Land." Julia stopped in her tracks. "Lord Groudon, the God of the Earth? He is in Octo Canyon?!" Shawn's mask popped open, and he faced her with a confused look. "How do you know his name?" Julia replied, "A millenium ago, centuries before we first encountered Inklings, we came across an old flash drive from the time of your people. It took two years to translate it. The list of the gods was on it."

Shawn sighed. "And you've been worshiping them ever since." Julia nodded. When they reached the cavern, Shawn's facemask closed and he began to scan the chrysalis. "Yeah, it's Groudon, all right. This is the third Legendary I've encountered in person." Julia faced him, curious. "You've met two of the other gods?" Shawn resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Reshiram and Zekrom. They sought me out, and said they'd pass on the word to the other Legendaries about me." As he finished speaking, Groudon's chrysalis began to crack, indicating it was coming out.

Shawn sighed, and said, "I'll try to reason with him. This will take a good amount of tact, and no small degree of charm, which is why you will leave the talking to me." Groudon's chrysalis exploded, and Julia leapt away from it. Shawn's armor was hit by chunks, but suffered no damage. Groudon rose to his full height, then opened his eyes. They were set on Shawn and Julia. Facing the Octoling, Shawn said, "Don't do anything stupid-." Julia immediately dropped to her knees and bowed before Groudon. "Please forgive us, my lord. We did not mean to disturb your rest." Shawn facepalmed. "Like that."

Groudon was silent for a moment, and spoke. "Calm yourself, Commander Traeger. You did not disturb my rest. It was time for my awakening." Facing Shawn, he said, "Zekrom and Reshiram have spoken of your self-proclaimed mission to defend the survivors of the Kalos region." Shawn nodded. "I am acting captain of the Kalos Facility, after all." Groudon nodded. "They have spoken of that as well. Welcome, captain. Tell me, based on your encounters with the Octarian race, what are they like?" Shawn had a guess as to why Groudon was asking him that, but answered honestly.

"They're aggressive, violent, incredibly stubborn, and very vengeful. They have a lot to learn as a species. But for their flaws, they do have one thing going for them: they're brilliant mechanics." Groudon nodded. "If you were to judge their species, what would you have done to them?" Concerned about that question, but not wanting to risk unnecessary fight, he said, "I'd find an area of land that Inklings haven't claimed, and put them there, the ones who refuse to see the truth about their leadership. As for those who already left the settlements, I'd leave them be. They're aspiring, making themselves better people."

Groudon nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Arceus will like that answer. However, moving them to another land will not be necessary. Their eyes will be opened soon enough." Looking at Julia, he said, "Tell your settlement this. The armies of Octo Canyon are to disband. Any zapfish that remains in the settlement are to be returned to Inkopolis. You will then negotiate an alliance with the New Squidbeak Splatoon. If you do not, Arceus herself will declare judgment upon you." Julia nodded. "It shall be done, my lord."

She was trembling in fear. Part of Shawn found it amusing, and the other part actually felt sorry for the poor Octoling. Groudon faced Shawn again. "I do have a task for you, captain. Kyogre has been missing ever since the second Primal Reversion. Arceus has asked for your help in locating her." Shawn sighed. "Did you guys check the Seafloor Cavern or the Cave of Origins?" Groudon chuckled. "We've searched the Cave of Origins. We were not able to reach the Seafloor Cavern, because of how high the water levels were at that time."

Shawn nodded. "Where's the Hoenn region now? Because of the Primal Reversion, the charts on the Kalos Facility are outdated." Groudon replied, "You are already in the Hoenn region. It was the first to be flooded, and is currently the only one that has been restored." Shawn nodded. "Which means we're not far from the Seafloor Cavern. I'll check it out as soon as I can." Groudon nodded. "Take care, captain. It will not be easy to reach it." Shawn nodded. "I'll take precautions." Groudon nodded. "Good luck, captain." With that, Groudon vanished, leaving no trace.

Shawn glanced at Julia, who was trembling on the floor in fear. He rolled his eyes. "Come on. You've got work to do." She nodded. Facing him, she said, "Thank you for coming today. What can we call you?" Facing her, he said, "You can call me SoftWare." With that, he walked out, and once he reached the surface, he took off towards the Kalos Facility at full speed. On the way, he commed Matrix, telling him to determine their exact location, and to send him the coordinates.

A/N

This chapter took me months to work on. So yes, the land that Inklings reside in in this universe is actually the Hoenn region. The island that had Sootopolis City is where Octo Canyon is, with the closest island to the mainland in that area being Octo Valley. Somewhere south-ish of Octo Canyon is where the Seafloor Cavern rests. While Julia is working to fulfill Groudon's command, the troubles from Octo Canyon are not quite over.