Humming the Calamari Inkantation, Ali runs a soft bristled brush over her tentacles. She lets out a warble sound, close to a purr as she grooms herself. Something most squids didn't know is that Octolings were often strict on grooming and cleanliness. Ali put down the brush and walked over to her desk, opening her laptop. She pulls up the online splategy guide and starts reading. The soldier part of her always strove for success, and she wanted to be the best in turf wars. Her phone buzzes and she gingerly picks it up, reading the glowing screen. It's Pearl, "Hey, Octo Agent, down for a tw at 4? :P" Ali smiles and responds "Fresh" and goes back to studying.

Four o clock comes around and Ali gears up. Her Neo Octoling Armour accentuates her figure, giving her a sleek, deadly look. Her octoling fashioned boots and shades complete the set. Ali is a weapon, and she knows it. Walking down the streets with her octo brush, she turns heads and hears whispers. As she walks by a squid in a schoolgirl outfit, spit lands on her boot. Looking up, she's not surprised to see the girl with the pigtails, sneering at her nastily. "If you're going to live here, you might as well try to fit in, octo brains." Ali feels her blood boiling and her temper rising. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she keeps walking. "That's right, octarian bitch, you know you don't belong here. Go crawl back into a kettle." Scattered laughter rises from the growing crowd. Clenching her fists, Ali whirls around, raising her brush above her head. The inkling gasps and covers her head. Ali runs forward, rage taken over. Someone dashes up from behind, grabbing the brush from her hands.

Ali turns around, seeing red. Pearl is standing there, leaning on Ali's octo brush. "This squid giving you trouble, Ali?" Dressed in a hoodie, kicks and her signature crown, Pearl commands attention. The inkling with the pigtails drops to her knees "I- I..." Ali looks down, the red fading from her eyes. Pearl walks closer and hands Agent 8 the brush, and patting her lightly on the shoulder. "C'mon Ali, lets go win some turf wars." She looks at the girl with the pigtails and then at the crowd "You should be ashamed, all of you. Ali hasn't done anything to deserve this kind of treatment. Actually..." Pearl pauses "She saved all your inky asses." Ali looks up, shocked. "That's right, she helped destroy a mega humanoid statue and saved you all from certain doom, so you'd all better cut that shit OUT." Pearl pretends to drop the mic and grabs Ali's hand. "Let's go, Ali."

Pearl happens to be a terror in battle, getting at least ten splats per match. She and Ali compete to see who can get more splats, but every time Ali wins, Pearl swears she cheated. They're in the middle of a battle when Ali recognizes a familiar face in Camp Triggerfish. Pearl jumps over her head and mercilessly splats the dark skinned inkling. "Booyah!" She calls out. Ali winces and returns to inking turf. They win, making it their fifth knockout match in a row. They exit the tower and lean against the wall in the lobby. "Whew, you're crazy good, Ali. Almost as good as me." Pearl winks and smiles up at her. Ali chuckles and flicks a speck of enemy ink off the handle of her brush. "Thanks, Pearl. You're a great battle ally." Ali flicks her crown lightly "And a great friend. Thank you for standing up for me, and stopping me." Pearl laughs "Of course. You can't let them see you like that, it just confirms what they're thinking. I'll always have your back... But touch my crown again and I'll splat you into nonexistence." She frowns pointedly. Ali puts her hands up "Noted."

Agent 8 is leaning on her balcony, savoring in the afternoon breeze. Her octo shades are on the ledge and her eyes are closed. She hears the sound of squids below her, living peacefully. Her phone buzzes in her pocket and she doesn't bother to check it. The clouds above her are fluffy and white and look like marshmallow giants. She turns her attention downwards and sees one boy staring at her from a cafe across the street. He's got a beanie on his head, and a face mask on. A black inky rider covers his torso. Ali looks at his feet and is shocked to see neo octoling boots. Focusing in on his face she sees his eyes and recognizes her own. The strange octoling waves at her and she waves back. They stare at each other for another minute before he gets up and walks across the street, and under her balcony, then disappears from her view. Ali's mind is reeling. She's not the only octoling in Inkopolis?

She's still shocked when she hears three precise knocks on her door. Putting her shades in their drawer she walks over and slowly opens the door. The octoling pulls his face mask down to reveal the same, petite features she has. Ali opens the door a little wider, speechless. "Hi, may I come in?" He looks around, nervously, as if someone were watching. "Sure..." Ali steps back, and he walks in. Strapped on his back is an Octo Shot. Ali closes the door and clears her throat, "Um, what's your name?" The boy turns and gives her a small smile "My name is Kai. What is yours?" She leans against the door "I'm Ali." The octoling boy looks at Ali's open computer, and the splategy guide on the screen "We have something in common." Ali waits for him to explain. He looks up "We both have short names." Ali processes this and raises an eyebrow "I suppose so... How did you get here?" Kai takes off the beanie, revealing a pink tentacle mohawk. "I was in a battle against inkling soldiers. They played a song that caused my entire flank to be freed. They couldn't splat us in cold blood, so they invited us to live here in Inkopolis." Ali stands upright in surprise "'Us'?" She repeats. Kai sits in her desk chair "Yes, us."

Ali walks over to her bed and sits on the edge, so that she and Kai are facing each other. "How many?" Kai's eyes are ruby red, just like hers. They glint mysteriously as he gives a teasing smile "Wouldn't you like to know?" She frowns "Yes, I would." "How about you come see for yourself? I'm hosting a party tonight. The entirety of my old platoon will be there." When Ali doesn't say anything, Kai uses a pen and notepad from her desk to write something. He stands "This is my address. Hopefully I'll see you tonight." He walks over to the door, but before he can open it Ali blurts out "Wait, don't you want to know how I got here?" Kai turns around "You can tell me at my party." And with that he walks out the door, leaving Ali with more questions than before he'd came.

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