No author note this time, so simply R&R :)

Chapter 9: Infiltration into the unknown

Location: Outskirts of the Octarian Fortress

POV: Shinjiro

I climb the massive cliff that blocked Octo Valley from this steel, Unpenatratable fortress.

"If the Octarians have all this firepower, why don't they attack now?" I asked myself.

"Because they want to attack inkopolis when they are blind and panicked." Said Cuttlefish.

I slid down the cliff, "Tell me about what I'll face down there."

"Many Octolings, as well as the usual Octarians. But be wary of Octo-Lancers."

Octo-Lancers?

"What are they?" I asked.

"They are the male equivalent of the Octolings. They excel in speed and strength. They wield ink Shields and blades that prevent frontal attacks." Cuttlefish replied.

"I see. So stealth is the best way to avoid them."

"Yep, Careful sonny, you're close to the base now."

The Wall of the fortress was massive. Even bigger than Inkopolis Tower.

How could I scale it?

Oh yeah, wall run.

I begin my ascent, something was up, it was too easy. Getting here without any patrols, making it to the wall without resistance and now I'm wall running up it.

Something's going on here.

As I reach the top, I know why the whole journey was easy.

The entire force was here. This was not good. I see many of the Octo-Lancers Cuttlefish warned me off.

Same size as any Inkling or Octoling, minus the bulky armor, tower shield and the wide, long blade that resembled a Knight's Claymore.

I seen them commune with their leader and my brother, Toshiro.

But something was very wrong. He looked a bit agitated, like he knew something big and something deadly was coming.

No matter, he couldn't of known I, or even Yaki was coming.

Two Octolings, or more precise,

One Octo-Lancer and one Octoling came into view, one a dark red and one a bright blue, was speaking to Toshiro.

I drop onto the yard and stealth my way to them.

I hide away from sight, close enough to hear them.

"Tan, make sure no one gets in or out of this fortress, Zaku, you assist her."

They looked like twins, the octoling looked the same as any other, but the colour scheme of her armor was different, her 'hair' colour was dark grey.

The Lancer had many small tentacles form a sort of 'spiky' hairstyle that belonged to any delinquent. His armor was bright blue, he also had Orange 'hair'.

The twins also had red eyes with a spiral pattern, which was interesting.

"The Octarians have their own Dynamic Duo." I joked silently,

"But they are dangerous. Avoid them at all costs, Shinjiro."

I nod. The place was suddenly abandoned, no octoling or octarian in sight, except for Toshiro.

"It's a nice night, isn't it?"

Who is he speaking too?

"I seen the sentinel fight that cyborg, as well as witness the deaths of many Inklings."

He sat down on a crate, left leg up on the crate, the other down, his left arm rested on his knee, it was how he always sat down.

He was always a trouble maker, but he meant to harm.

Until...

"I know you're there, shinjiro."

Crap...

I stood.

"I won't fight you, but I do know what you're here for."

I stood silent.

He sighed. "I see you really care for them, like I care for the Octarians."

I raised a brow.

"I know how troubled they are. They rely on...machines to keep themselves going. Some are even dying out. It's only a matter of time before the whole Octarian race is extinct. Then what will happen to me?"

He...is bluffing, right? He doesn't actually CARE for them, right?

"You used them as pawns, Toshiro. Why do you care how they feel or act?"

He shrugged, "I...don't really know. I guess I learned from you. I grew attached to them, like you do. I wanted to protect them, like you do."

"You wanted purpose, like me."

Toshiro, for once during his time here, agreed with me, "Yeah. But that's where the similarities end. Both our 'families' are at war. Hell, you and I shouldn't even be talking."

"But...can't you say anything to them?" Toshiro chuckled, "the big man would have me splatted like that."

"Octavio.." Cuttlefish said.

"I wouldn't even dare go against him. Besides, if I did go with you, who would keep these guys safe from the wrath of 'Agent 3'?"

I widened my eyes.

"You didn't know? Agent 3 has caused genocide against the Octolings in the pursuit of finding Zapfish even before you and I came here. Tako was orphaned because of her."

"But...It was retaliation!"

"What's with the sudden tone? Don't tell me you actually know her?"

It's a her?

"To think, my brother is a surrogate father to a genocide expert."

I shook my head slowly, he sighed, "I see you're still blinded by their kindness. Even when the cutest inkling is coated with Octarian blood from top to bottom, you will still 'love' them."

"She would never do it, she couldn't."

Toshiro stood up, shrugging his usual shrug, "She has a good heart, I'm sure. But her loyalty is what will cause her to harm." He turned away from me.

"If she had killed every single Octarian? Would you still love her?"

I grew silent as I asked myself the same question. "If Tako killed every Inkling, would you?"

Toshiro grew silent. "I...I don't know"

He grew agitated,

"Do what you must, but ask yourself this before you take a Zapfish, 'is it worth the lives?'"

With that he vanished into the darkness. I stand silently in the empty area, "Is it worth it?"

"C'mon sonny, we don't have enough time. We need to know where the Zapfish is."

Shinjiro nodded, moving on.

He had went from here and there, looking all over the fortress, evading the troops at every direction. In a corridor he heard marching. Jumping up and latching to a high ceiling.

Pov: Shinjiro.

I barely hold my grip as an platoon of Octolings walk by, this was arduous.

I tried looking all over the many terminals and computers, all I found was useless data about regulations and a 'No Flirting' warning here and there.

I was growing tired, weak and hungry, slightly.

"HEY!" I was suddenly seen, by an Octoling. She pulled out a 9mm Pistol and began to fire.

I deflected the shots back with ease, I reflected one shot back at her, knocking the gun out her hand before knocking her unconscious.

But it wasn't enough. Soon I was crowded and The Octopus Twins walked into the middle of the crowd, staring me down.

Tan, the Sister, grew a smirk, "What's the Sentinel doing here? You here to scout? Take back what's yours?"

I didn't answer. Her smirk vanished, "answer me, you pathetic Inkling-lover!"

"Tan, Calm down. Anger dulls your vision. He will talk. Or he will die."

"I am not talking. I have friends to protect, and I won't let them down." I replied.

"What makes you so special? We have friends too! We bleed, we feel and we struggle just like THEM." She added malice to 'Them'.

I grew silent, but the inklings need their power back...

"We need this more than you do! It's about time the Inklings suffer!"

I heard guns lock and load around me. Suddenly I heard an explosion.

"You left too quick." I look up. Three figures surround me.

"If you had waited, I would have came along. But.."

The dust cleared and stood before me was my fellow agents 1, 2 and 3.

Christmas Eve is here! The big day is tomorrow and I can't wait!

Hopefully you all have a lovely Christmas day as well!