Splatoon Afterworld

by drz1990

Explained in the intro

2. Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Note: Hey to all readers, I hope the intro and prologue was ok, like I said before it was kind of rushed and a little short, but this chapter will be bigger. I've decided to go ahead and finish both prologue and chapter 1 at the same time and release them back to back to get some momentum going, not sure when chapter 2 will be released but will get started on it soon.

Seth Matthison, once a soldier and father had just woken from his 2,000 year sleep. Preserved in time by a machine called a cryopod, constructed to place humans in a dormant state until their release but Seth wasn't the only human that was frozen in a cryopod in the now abandoned underground facility. His wife and child were also placed in cryostasis as well as a unknown number of humans that were volunteered for the program. He can't recall what had happened before he was placed in the metal cocoon only remembering that his wife and baby boy were inside a pod across from his. Everything that unfolded before his awakening came back into his mind as brief memories, somewhat vague as to how he ended up in that pod and where he was and if anyone was still around.

He had already left the cryochamber and crawled under a door on one side of the cold metal-lined corridor. The only thing he could was the echo of his steps and water dripping off the nearby piping. The floor was spotted with puddles and grim from not being maintained. It was evident that there was no one around, not a sign of life at all. Seth checked another cryochamber but like the one he was in was full of pods, half opened and the other half, nothing but a mere coffin for the deceased occupant inside it. He continued on, seeing no clues of what happened and still no signs of life. He approached an intersection. The door straight ahead was shut down but the hallway to his right was accessible. He took it as the light flickered above him and a shadow appeared on the far end where the hallway curved.

"Huh..." he replied. He blinked but the shadow vanished on the wall. Was somebody still around. Seth wasn't sure but decided to press on thinking that his mind may have been playing tricks on him. Around the curve, the hallway intersected with a small lobby. A window facing a room containing the power source, two large generators were on the other side but as he entered the entry way. Something stuck to the glass hoped off and slithered across the floor and to the far side of the room with the generators. Seth caught a glimpse of a shape on the window that jumped off of it. He ignored it and looked around, the lobby was empty as well so he looked inside a nearby office. A computer terminal was still on but much of the data was corrupt.

Frustrated, seeing that their was nothing obtainable he left the little room and entered the room with the generators. The machines hummed and sparked, clearly a sign that they were still supplying the facility with emergency power. Something did catch Seth's eye though. Between the stairs on the other side of the room and before another door was a skeleton laying on its stomach wearing a tattered uniform. Seth flipped it over and spotted a bullet hole in the location of its temple. Suicide or homicide? Seth was agape and confused. "What happened? Is their anyone alive down here?" he asked himself.

He stood back up and proceeded, their was nothing else that could be done for the person since they were long dead. The door rose open but something up the stairs on the other side was startled and slithered further down the walkway and out of sight, this time leaving a purplish inky substance on the floor. Seth inspected it after seeing something swim away. "What was that, now I know I'm not seeing things but..." he started to say. He squatted down and carefully touched substance and rubbed his fingers. "Is this... ink? It feels like it but I'm not so sure. It's too thick to be some kind of blood," he said to himself.

He continued on but stayed alert, whatever he saw wasn't recognizable. The corridor continued to wind around until at the end was yet another door but it had some purplish inky goo on it, like the same stuff above the stairway. The door opened and inside was another lobby, across it was a cafeteria. To the right was an atrium and outside the entry way of the lobby into the large atrium was a desk with another skeleton leaning into a chair. Holes in its lab coat showed signs that a gun battle must have ensued because the whole atrium was riddled with skeletons, scattered paperwork, debris and bullet holes in the walls. Seth was shocked as he scanned the area. It appeared to be the scene of a skirmish perhaps but why?

The clues of bullet holes in the clothing and the bones themselves pointed out their was an intense fight. Some of the skeletons, if not majority were just non combative staff workers and researchers. A few of them were armed guards still in uniforms, the weapons beside them or in their hands with bullet casings littering the floor around them. Non of the skeletons looked out of place and what I mean is, where were the threats or hostiles they couldn't repelled? Did the staff try to kill each other or was their something more to this. There wasn't enough signs or clues to conclude any kind of plausible outcome. Seth focused back on finding his family or anyone that could've been alive but by what he's seen, his chances were dwindling.

Looking around for an exit he came across I directory on the wall. He scrolled through it and spotted the main elevator. Was that the exit? But his thoughts were broken when he heard something, it sounded like metal spilling on the floor. Apparently somebody was still around down there. He spotted a pistol on the floor and was fortunate that when he checked it, the sidearm was still loaded with a full mag. "Time to go investigate," he said racking back the slide. Holding the pistol up as if it were instinctive, he continued to scan his surroundings in front and left the atrium towards the source of the noise.

Seth entered into a collection of rooms. Everything seemed dead quiet, but the human was ready for anything, whatever scuffled with and killed the staff may have still been lurking around. Another sound of movement, this time what appeared to be something shuffling through papers was coming from one the rooms beside Seth. He huddled up against the doorway and rushed inside the room, pistol drawn but... no one was inside. The room was vacant.

"This is strange... I can't be the only person around," he quietly said to himself. "Is... anyone in here!? Show yourself!" he shouted with his weapon still drawn.

Something was hiding in sight and steadily watching the human from under a desk. It moved away as to not be detected. Seth lowered the gun and assumed that no one was around but something must've been lingering. He scanned but as he did, something crept beside his feet and scurred out the door behind him stealthily. Seth gave a sigh and turned around to see a path of purple ink that wasn't there before on the floor.

"What the..." he replied. He turned and looked down the hallway to see the inky trail leading back toward the atrium.

"Alright, something's definitely here, this game of hide and seek is about to be over," he said to himself.

He rushed back to the atrium and looked around to see the ink leading toward another entry. Heading toward the main elevator, possibly the entrance and exit of the facility. He gave a growl of frustration and ran down the path only for the ink to end at the far side of the corridor, leading into the processing bay where individuals were being scanned before they could enter the complex. Empty like the other places, Seth still kept his guard up and knew whatever it was hanging around and leaving the ink trail was nearby and couldn't have gotten far. "Dammit!" he sneered. He pressed the top of his pistol against his forehead in frustration before letting out a deep breath. "Focus, Seth... Maybe I'm losing it but maybe I'm not. I need to stay concentrated on finding a way out of this damn place and find my family. I don't think they're down here or whatever the hell this place is. There's no sense in hanging around. I need answers and I'm not find them down here if everyone's dead. There's gotta be somebody around," he said.

He approached a metal gate, with two double doors on the other side. Above it said main elevator/exit.

"Exit, that's what I'm looking for. The sooner I get out of here the better... but how do I get it open?" he asked.

A scanner was attached to the wall beside it. The light was red and on the screen it said locked. "I need a card... better find one,"

Seth scoured the room for a card or something that was scannable. He spotted a skeleton in a lab coat with a card sticking out of their pocket. He reached for it and grabbed it but then he noticed something strange on the collar bone of the skeleton. An indentation of some kind or a strange bite mark.

Two slots just a few inches apart but one slot a little lower in between them. What caused it? As Seth continued to look he spotted another "bite" mark just like on the arm bone.

No longer concerned and solely focused on leaving facility. He ran up to the scanner and the machine allowed the gates to open with a green light and hud light up to signal unlocked. The gates crept and grinded on the rails. Nearly frozen from not being used in such a long time. Seth was confident he would be out on the surface to see what would lie ahead of him. As he approached the elevator he stopped to hear a noise come from behind him. It was an odd noise, fluid-like. He turned around and heard a sploosh but nothing was there and then like something landing in the floor of the elevator. He slowly turned around but saw nothing in the elevator neither. "Man this place is messing with me, glad I'm getting out of here," he told himself.

Seth was unaware that whatever was behind him jumped over his head unnoticed and into the elevator. A strange form that created the inky trail it left wherever it moved. It then hid behind the control panel unseen as Seth hopped aboard the elevator and pressed the lift button on the panel. The creature revealed to be an... octopus? But something wasn't right. What was an octopus doing out of water and how could it have survived? It stayed hidden as the elevator went up and once it reached the end. There was a hatch above that opened instantly, the sunlight blinding Seth and fresh air filling his lungs.

Once his eyes adjusted to the light. He looked around and a slight smile of hope turned to an expression of hopelessness and disappointment. His arms fell and he stared at his surroundings. He had a hard time of taken in what he was seeing. Though he was standing on a large metal pad around a gated complex that was surrounded by woods. The outer surroundings were "out of place" to say the least. Seth could spot floating landmasses and the surrounding area seemed "fractured". He saw what happened to look like a neighborhood, a subdivision that was somewhat vaguely familiar. Something was telling him to go there but why? The site overlooked what appeared to be a valley. The suburb he spotted sat in that valley and between him and the large group of houses was a... canyon? if you could call it that.

As Seth stared at the valley below, the octopus from before slowly slithered off the elevator and bumping into a can. Seth snapped out of his trance and turned around to what had made that noise. He looked and then spotted the octopus. He stared at it as it stared back before rubbing his eyes to confirm what he believed what he thought he was seeing. It looked sort of like an octopus but that couldn't be. Seth stared at it with his mouth open wide in disbelief before shaking is head. The octopus looked back at Seth knowing it had caught and after a moment at staring each other and gave another gargle and quickly swam away.

"What the..." was all Seth got out. He decided to pursue it and see if it was truly an octopus or an hallucination. He chased the octopus down a declining rocky path. An abandoned towable RV sat halfway buried along the hill beside the path as well a rusty truck. He stayed behind the octopus as it was trying to get away. It swerved around in hoping to lose the human and then hoped over a large crevasse on the path. Seth stopped but decided to jump over it, nearly losing the octopus but up ahead just outside the suburban neighborhood the octopus stopped and jetted out of sight. "Holy crap" said Seth as he watched the creature shoot away leaving a puddle of ink behind.

"Now I've seen everything and to think I was in the army. This is crazy. First I wake up in that freezer, my family is missing, everyone is dead and now I see an octopus on land shoot away from like a bottle rocket on the 4th of July. What next or should I ask," he said frantically. He gave a deep breath and cleared his thought. "Concentration is key, you learned that back in training sergeant... sergeant? (chuckle) What am I doing? I'm not soldier... well not anymore. I gotta try and convince myself that I'm going through hysteria and not seeing octopuses fly off before my eyes. That's insane. I need to keep searching for my family. They couldn't have gotten far and surely someone's gotta be a round. I just hope I don't lose my mind before I run into anyone, especially carrying this gun," said Seth.

He decided to place the pistol behind his back tucked in his pants with the grip sticking out. He was wearing a tank top with camo cargo pants. presumably an army uniform that was put on him while he was unconscience. The human walked down the debris strewn street and saw multiple houses lined on each side. It was eerie as if out of a horror movie. Windows busted, parts of the walls missing. Abandoned vehicles. Where was he?

After a couple of minutes, Seth strolled the neighbor for any signs of people. He hollered out for anyone but got no answer back. Like he was inside the underground complex, he wasn't alone and this time it wasn't one thing or person but multiple eyes on him from his surroundings. He was being monitored and then all of sudden he stopped and got the feeling he was being watched. He slowly drew his pistol and stood still. An octopus slithered down a path out of a house behind Seth and then if things weren't already strange enough. The octopus transformed into a humanoid, with tentacles instead of hair and goggles covering their eyes. They quickly dispatched what looked like a super soaker from behind their back and aimed it at Seth.

Seth heard the movement behind him and as quick as he could, turned around and aimed the pistol toward their direction. The humanoid shot a blast of purple ink at Seth, striking him in the face and pulling the trigger missing the assailant and flailing back on the ground and dropping his pistol. He groaned as he landed back on the ground. Now disoriented and blinded by the ink, he tried to wipe it off but before he could finally get his sight back but all he could see was the back of the super soaker striking him in the face.

The attacker, like described prior was human-like with hands, arms, feet, legs and a head but on that head was a cluster of black tentacles instead of hair with seaweed stalks attached to the googles covering their eyes. They were wearing some kind of armor and black slick tight shorts exposing their stomach. Boots were covering their feet and a tank of purple ink was strapped to their back. What kind of creature was this. They pressed their headset and gave a command through a gargled language to its squad mates. Three more octopuses appeared out of nowhere and changed to their humanoid form like the one that incapacitated Seth.

They talked amongst each other as they were surprised to see the human laying on the ground. The continued to growl and gargle. One of them, with red tentacles inspected Seth's body but their arm was pulled by the commander, the black tentacled one that struck Seth. She shook her head and let go of the red-headed one, signaling her to not touch him. Seth gave a moan, but he was unresponsive. The four creatures decided to carry Seth into a nearby house and tie his hands so when he woke up he wouldn't get away or attack them.

Three hours later...

Time passed and Seth was lying on the floor of one of the run down houses. Slowly coming back to his senses, he gave a groan and blinked his eyes. His face was hurting from the weapon that struck him and knocked him out. He moved his head and looked around him, seeing he was inside a empty house, or he thought. He turned and looked down toward the direction of his legs and saw three figures, human in appearance say for their hair which wasn't hair at all, were they some kind of hat or wig. One of the creatures had her arms crossed behind their back, looking out of the bay windows in a living room. The other two were chatting amongst themselves in a strange language, with it was language.

Seth couldn't contemplate what was going on, all he remembered was seeing an octopus fly off and then waling down the empty decrepit neighborhood until he was bashed in the face. He remembered the creature he briefly saw and then looked at them, examining them. Were they humans and why were they dressed like that? Wearing what he thought might be some kind of armor on their chest with a top under it. A belt around their exposed bellies and boots on their feet.

Then he a footstep and he picked his head up and saw a fourth creature, looking right at him. He stared as they stared back. It's tentacles were red with metallic goggles covering their eyes, donning a metal vest on their torso and black tight shorts. They appeared human but their strange dialect got him thinking if they were aliens or some kind of mutant. By their posture and slightly protruding chest it had to have been female.

It gave a gargle before squatting down to get a better look at Seth. He jarred back a little, worried what they were about to do to him. Soon the others saw he was awake and their attentions were gotten. They approached him and their teammate.

"What the hell is going on? What are you and where am I?" he asked them.

"They didn't reply. looking confused as they tilted their heads. Seth wiggled his hands felt that they were tied. He wanted to get up but he couldn't. They looked at each and spoke in that gargled language again. "Hey! I wanna know what' going on and why you tied me up!?" Seth shouted at them.

Still not understand them as his demand broke their conversation. The black-headed creature that shot him looked at him and walked over, grabbing him and propping him up against the wall. She pulled out a knife and pressed it against his throat. She gazed at him behind their goggles and gave a growl.

The red-tentacled girl from before gave a gargle and was reasoning with what Seth assumed was the leader holding the knife against his larynx. "Huh heh heh..." she told her. The one with the knife growled back at her. Apparently there was insecurity between her and the human but the red head was trying to coax her into letting go of him. Another attempt of getting the black headed creature to falter eventually won over and she let go of Seth and holstered her knife.

The two got in a debate as the leader pointed at Seth. Still not understanding them, Seth was getting nervous, what were the creatures intentions? The other two creatures just stood back and watched the other two talk. One also had red tentacles but darker toned skin while the other had black tentacles but was missing the kelp stakes on her googles and her back tentacles were laid down instead of curled. They then turned their sights on Seth who looker uneasily at them.

During the time of Seth's capture...

Not too long after Seth's capture, he was dragged into the abandoned house. The squad of humanoids huddled around his unresponsive body and examined it. "What is this thing?" asked one of them.

"I'm not so sure. I've never seen anything like it. Could be a disguise of some kind," said another one.

"Only way to find out," said a third. She kneeled down and tugged Seth's hair but the texture and feel caused her to stop. "Those are definitely not tentacles, it feels soft... odd," she continued.

"It has to be a disguise, I guess. It doesn't have eye marks, what could it be if it isn't a disguse?"

"I don't have an explanation, this is a strange creature," said the one that struck the human.

"It's warm whatever it is,"

"Hmm... let me see,"

She felt his head and the feel of his skin. "This can't be an octoling or inkling, there's no way, you don't put off body heat,"

"Just tie it's hands up, I don't know if it's hostile or not. I'm taking any chances since it was armed,"

As three of the creatures were discussing about what Seth, one of them, the meeker and more reserved member of the group backed away. She had a sense of what he could be and where he came from. After all it was her that lead him to their position in the first place, unintentionally of course.

"He's from that place..." she blurted out causing them to stop their conversation.

"Place... what place?" asked the black-headed one.

"She then moved her head back toward the facility where the cryopods were. "That's impossible, that area is inaccessible, the octarian army couldn't get into it and Octavio himself shut down efforts to bust in," she told her team member.

"I'm telling the truth I... managed to make it inside,"

The other creatures watched and then looked each other with shocked expressions. "That's not possible, how could you have gotten inside? You can't honestly make me believe that," siad the leader doubtfully with her arms crossed.

"Do you have any other explanation?"

The black-headed humanoid wanted to say something but she could've been on to something. She turned and looked back at Seth which they had no idea what he was as it seemed the ink was able to neutralize him to an extent. He was still considered a threat and dangerous to the group. "If that... thing did come from out of that place then..." the leader started.

"Then what?" asked one of the other creatures that were still baffled from the conversation.

"That can't be... they've been extinct this whole time," she muttered looking back at the red head. "That can't possible be a..."

"A human," replied the meek one with the red curled tentacles. Her superior turned back to her after hearing her remark, unable to deny the fact she could've been right.

"How did you get in? And why are you just now reporting this?" asked the black headed one sternly. Her subordinate rubbed her hands trying to come up with explanation. "I reconned the area and found a way in," she explained,

"I'm listening," the leader said.

"Well this hatch opened, I'm not sure why but I went down inside this large tunnel. I found the remains of what I think were humans. They looked a lot like the fossils the octarians have dug up. My observations say there must've been some kind of conflict but I'm not really sure. I explored the area and came across a lot of technology, technology so much more advance than our octo tech and weaponry...then I came across..."

"came across what?"

"These metal pod-like machines. Some of them were opened but some were containing humans and I don't mean like the remains I saw or the fossils we've dug up. Then I heard a noise, a hissing coming from this other room and that's when I saw this human step out of it,"

"So what your telling me is this creature came of a pod like you were describing," the leader said as the other creature gave a nod.

The black headed creature then stepped over and studied Seth who was still knocked out from her weapon. "Humans haven't been around for over thousands of years or so what the octo records have shown. Our ancestors were banished in these underground domes that we assumed wer constructed by humans long ago for what reason I don't know. Their species still remains a mystery as all we have came across were their fossilized remains and their ancient technology that we could salvage to survive down here. They must have been an intelligent race but we couldn't come up with a reason why they went extinct," said the leader.

"I'm not sure what else it could be commander. It's appearance is definitely not oceanic-based. To think a human survived this whole time is just... astounding. The octarian scientists would ink themselves if they knew a real human was alive,"

The two other creatures walked over and stared at Seth. "So this is a human huh, he looks kinda cute," blurted the other black-headed creature. The three other turned to her with estranged expressions. "what, I'm just saying"

"I'm going to keep my comment to myself for your sake," the leader told her. "We need more answers, How it survived and what it was doing down," she pressed.

"Maybe it knows," said one of the creatures, also with a red and curly head. Her goggles pulled over revealing blue eyes and darker complected skin compared to her teammates.

"Sergeant, it spoken some strange language that I've never even heard before. How are we going to even interrogate it?" asked their leader.

"I don't know? You brought up about getting answers and well, it would no more than any of us," she shot back.

"Sergeant she's right. I don't think it even speaks are language and I'm sure it can't understand us," said the creature that commented on Seth.

"Then what do we do?" asked the sergeant.

"Wonder if it's a male or female?" asked the lieutenant who was twirling Seth's pistol which she had been holding this whole time.

"Not sure, by what it's wearing I'd say it was a soldier and by how it acted before," answered the private.

"Lieutenant Luna! Please put that weapon down. I know we share the same rank but I'm still the squad leader. We have no idea what that's capable of," scolded the other lieutenant and leader of the group.

"(deep sigh) Fine," she replied and tucked the pistol in her tight black shorts. "So you gonna check?"

"Check what?" asked the private.

"If it's a male or female, you said you think it's a soldier. A majority of the octarian army are females but then again it's not an octoling neither," said Luna.

"There chest is flat like a male's. I don't think it's biology is that much different from ours," said the private.

"Only one way to find to find out," said Luna as she approached and kneeled down to inspect Seth.

"Lieutenant what are exactly trying to prove?" asked her equal but still leader with her arms crossed.

"Oh nothing, I'm curious now," she said with a grin.

"Luna act like a lieutenant and quit your hijinks. It's gonna get you or any of us killed one day," said the lieutenant as she shook her head, displeased of how the lieutenant was acting toward the situation. The private moved back but curious about what she was about to do. Anxious, except the leader who was annoyed but a little curious herself was observing Luna. She moved Seth a little as to gain access to the button and zipper of his camo pants. Once undone she slide the pants down and well... revealing what gender he was.

All three creatures turned beet red, Luna's mouth open with a humorous look on her face behind the goggles. The sergeant covered her mouth and the private with her mouth open was speechless. The leader on the other hand blushed but turned her head and shielded her face. Luna shook her head and pulled Seth's pants back up. "It's definitely a male, you're right their biology isn't that different but..." Luna started still blushing and trying to compose herself.

"Let's get off target, please," said the sergeant. The private though was still red and trying to remove the vision from her mind. The lieutenant walked over and shot a glare of dissatisfaction to Luna. " Lieutenant! You best get your act together and knock off the crap..."

"I saw you look and blush. Don't tell me you didn't like what you saw Mirage," Luna shot with a smirk.

Mirage balled her fist up and closed in on Luna. "Another stunt like that and you'll be picking your beak off the floor, got it," she told her sternly.

"Geez, I get it... I don't know why we're still using this rank and file crap. We left the army remember. I maybe an elite but I'm not gonna act like one so why don't you lighten up for a chance Mirage," she told her waving her hands out.

"Because we're still being hunted down. We went AWOL, grounds for being splatted. Treason under Octavio's rule,"

"So what, we've managed to stay hidden for over a week now. I don't anyone will search for us in this part of the territory. It's been abandoned and as far as the octarians know it's still like that,"

"I wouldn't get relaxed yet. We've been fortunate so far but I'm sure our luck will eventually run out and then we'll have to relocate,"

As the two black-headed creatures talked amongst each other. The meek red head kneeled beside Seth and rubbed his head, feeling his hair and the warmth his body was putting out. The other red head with blue eyes watched her and moved in to see what she was doing.

"So you still think this is a human?" she asked her partner.

"I... think so," she answered.

"You brought up there were other humans down there. Was he the only one alive?"

"He's the only one I saw that came out of one of those machines. He maybe the last of his kind,"

"Well then that would make him valuable wouldn't it. The only human around. Just think how the octarians would react if they knew a human was alive right now,"

"Star, they would probably put him in a cage or worse, dissect him or something. Theirs something about him that puzzles me though,"

"What would that be?"

"I don't know how to explain it. Maybe when he wakes up I'll find out,"

Current time...

Seth had woken up moments ago but now he had a knife at his throat. The human was desperate and in the worst predicament he could imagine right now until... Suddenly the private pulled Seth away and shielded herself, staring at her team with a serious look. Shocked by what their comrade did, they faltered a little and lowered their weapons.

"What are you doing?" demanded Mirage the team leader.

"Don't hurt him," she replied.

"Huh? But... Vee, why are you..." started Luna.

"defending him... I don't think he means us any harm. I think he's scarred. Wouldn't you be," Vee finished for her.

"Private! Move aside, I don't care if he's scarred or not. We don't anything about his race. He still poses an imminent threat, that's an order," said Mirage.

"If we can somehow communicate with him then maybe we can reach an understanding. Maybe we can learn more about his species and their technology," reasoned Vee.

Mirage felt she had reached an impasse and thought about what the private was interjecting. Being the last human in existence so far could mean he could pose a viable asset to learn more about him and their technology that left behind or a serious threat to her and her team. She place her knife back in it's sheath and pinched her nose, feeling irritated and defeated. "I can't believe I'm even considering this but... you somewhat make a valid point," she told Vee who lowered her arms in front of Seth.

"I hope you know what you're doing, you're putting us at risk protecting him, we're already having to be on guard if the octarian forces were to appear. Why the interest of that human all of a sudden?"

"There's just something about him... I can't place my tentacle on it and he is the last of his species, a one time opportunity to learn from him. I'm sure we'll figure out a way we can talk to him,"

Seth watched the two creatures talk with one another. He was appreciative that the one creature kept the others from killing him but why? It seemed suspicious but none the less it seemed things were deescalating... for the time being.

After the two had finished talking, Vee looked back at Seth and raised her goggles, revealing her green eyes and purple eye rings. For a moment, Seth felt sort of mesmerized by the feminine creature. There was something different about her, a feeling that Seth felt... a familiar feeling but he snapped out it, reminding himself she was not human and his captor. She gave a smile that Seth wasn't sure what it meant, he wasn't sure if he should smile back.

"Hur heh heh," she cried out to her team.

Then the leader gave a gargled sound and a nod. Was there some kind of agreement? These creatures were somewhat civil and communication would probably be near impossible Seth thought to himself. Vee approached the human and squatted down in front of him, staring into his eyes with her hand her her chin. As if an idea popped in head, se looked down on the dust-covered floor and started drawing. One was rectangular with a small square in the middle. It was supposed to be a drawing of the cryopod that human was in. Then next to it she started drawing a stick man, representing Seth. She pointed from the rectangular shape to the stick man. "Ha heh," she said to him.

Seth was apparently confused, he didn't know what it meant at first but then he figured it out when she pointed toward the direction of the underground facility he was in. "Oh, I follow you... yeah the facility, I guess that's supposed to a drawing of the cryopod and me as that stick figure," he told her.

"Hur heh heh," she replied.

"Yes I came out of that thing... but why should you care?" he said looking at her.

"Hur heh heh," she said again as she pointed at the drawings.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say... look just let me go, I don't have time to try and process what all that gargling means," he told her with frustration in his voice.

Vee was seeing she wasn't making any head way. Mirage shook her head and the others were confused themselves. Seth was getting antsy and needed to find a way to get out the house and away from the creatures so he could locate his wife and son. Vee was stuck in thought trying to figure out what else she could do to try and communicate with the human while the others got into a discussing. Everyone was distracted and Seth felt that the rope around his wrist was loosening, the knot was coming undone and he managed to slip his hands out of it. He rubbed hsi wrist and saw the creatures were paying no mind so he decided to slowly get up and grab a chair near him.

He picked it up as he stood and tried to drop it on Vee, she looked and saw that he was free and looming over her. She yelped and octo formed, quickly moving out of the way as Seth slammed the chair against the floor where she was it. The others attention was soon caught, seeing the human free from his bindings, panicking and pulling out their weapons. Mirage shot but missed and then Seth returned it by throwing the chair at them. They evaded it and the chair shattered as it broke out of the large bay window in the living room. While they were recollecting themselves, Seth quickly rushed out the door toward the street but before he could he was shot in the back by a blast of ink.

"GAH!" he jeered as he fell over on the sidewalk. "He winced in pain from the impact and the ink was affecting his motor skills, he had a hard time moving and shock from the blast was hurting. Like punch in the spine. The creatures rushed out and approached him, guns drawn. Mirage growled at him and laid a punch to his face when he turned around and saw the creatures over his body. Wanting to punch the human again she was stopped by a loud gargle coming from Vee who just ran out.

"I won't hear another word private! This human attacked us and he tried to flee! I won't take anymore chances!" shouted Mirage angrily before she aimed her weapon at Seth's face.

"Don't kill him! It's... my fault he escaped, I should have kept my eye on him. Please don't do it, I'm begging you, he's the last of his kind," she pleaded.

"I don't care if he's the last human around. I'm not gonna let another incident happen like that again. This team comes before anything else and you of all people should know that,"

"Yes I know, I take full responsibility but whatever you do please spare him,"

"Spare him? Private... I don't know what your fascination with this human is but if you expect me to let this go then you're out of your mind. Give me a better reason that I shouldn't splat it,"

"Him,"

"Him, it, whatever... you're so determined to keep him around. I don't know what you see in this human for you to put your team at risk in keeping him around... but, very well, He's got another chance but this time he'll but put on close observation and isolated so he doesn't escape again, got it!" she snapped at Vee.

"Yes, lieutenant,"

She turned back to Seth who held is cheek from the punch and shot her a glare. Glaring back and baring her fangs, she picked him by the throat and shoved back toward the direction of the house. "Luna! Find some wire and make sure you put a knot in it this time!" Mirage commanded.

After restraining Seth again, they shoved him to a small bedroom in the back of the house. The room contained a chair, crib and toys were littered across the floor. Mildew coated the walls and sunlight was bleeding through holes in the ceiling. It must have been at one time a bedroom for an infant or child. Seeing the crib reminded Seth of his infant son before he was pushed into the chair against the wall. Mirage grabbed a metal folding chair and plopped it on the floor in front of the doorway. "See to it the human doesn't escape," she ordered the sergeant. "We'll take turns guarding him, at the meantime Luna I want you do a patrol, make sure theirs's no hostiles around and if there are we'll try and slip out of this place and regroup," she told the other lieutenant who gave a nod before octo forming and swimming away.

Mirage stormed away, giving Vee a disapproved look behind her goggles. Vee turned to look at Seth who had an expression of grief, staring at her and then looking back at the crib. Vee wondered why he looked the little enclosed bed. She pondered and wasn't sure. She slipped away and let the sergeant guard the human. As an hour passed, Seth was having a hard time staying away, occasionally nodding off. There would be no attempt of escape this time, his bindings were stronger and the exit was blocked by one of the armed creatures. Star continued to observe Seth behind the goggles she was wearing, with a neutral expression. Seth shook his head to try and stay awake as give a deep sigh of irritation.

He looked back at the crib. "I'm never gonna find my family am I," he muttered sadly.

Star tilted her head wondering what he said. Seth turned to his guard who was staring at him and gave another sigh, knowing he wouldn't be able to get away this time.

In the living room, Vee sat on a dirty couch and stewed over Seth. Mirage was steadily staring out of the now broken window, watching the street and keeping an eye out for anything. Vee turned to Mirage with thoughts racing through her mind. "Lieutenant," she called out to her leader.

"What is it private?" she answered back.

"I was thinking..."

"...you're thinking is becoming dangerous. Let me guess, it's about that human,"

"...Yes, ma'am,"

"What about him now? If I should dare ask,"

"You've mentioned before about relocating... I thought about that place again, the place where that human came from. Can we go there and take the human with us. I mean that would make a great hiding spot and the octarians would never think to look there, I mean they assume..."

"Let me stop you there private. I don't have the patience to listen to one you're brilliant ideas. I decided to keep the human around out of good faith that maybe in some way we could try to make contact with him and that failed. Right now my only concern is keeping from us getting detected. It's just a matter of time until were tracked down and now you're suggesting we go inside that area with the human knowing well we have no knowledge about this place beside what you've already told us. You mentioned seeing more humans before, what's to say they haven't woken up. They could proven hostile like the one we're holding captive and walk into a trap. I'd rather not take my chances thank you, so I suggest to you private that you keep your ideas to yourself before they get us killed,"

"You know it as well as I do that the octarians tried before getting in there. If we do go and hide out then they wouldn't try to scan the area, we'll be out of sight and plus there's so much human tech down there we could study or use. I think it would benefit us in the long run not to mention we could learn more about the humans,"

"And why should I care. Yes out people are fascinated by humans and the technology they left behind but I'm also thinking about the consequences of going down and stumbling across something that could put us in danger. Why can't you see that and why are you so attached to this human. A human that tried to attack us, that tried to attack you and won't stand for it,"

"I'm... sorry I ever brought it up," said Vee as she downer her head and whimpered.

Mirage soon felt bad but she had to be stern in order to ensure her squad's survival. Evading the octarian forces and now dealing with the human was putting on strain on her. She approached Vee and slid her goggles over her tentacles and placed her hand on Vee's shoulder. "Listen... I don't mean to be on edge but we've been enough as it is. As the squad leader I have to look out for the team and make the right decisions. You need to understand that," said Mirage sternly.

Vee looked up at her and the two stared into each others eyes. Vee quickly hugged Mirage who was stunned and not expecting the gesture but gave in and wrapped her arms around Vee. "I understand," said the private before she pulled away.

"You're like a big sister to me, lieutenant. I didn't mean to put this stress on you...I'm sorry," she said with pleading eyes.

"(deep sigh) I know you didn't... it's that optimism of yours why I like you and I call you my little sister," she told Vee with a slight smile and compassionate expression, something the leader had a hard time expressing, since she had to have a stern demeanor for the team. She slid her goggles back on and went back to her soldiering mode. "I thought about what you said and I'm willing to give it a chance. I just hope we're making the right choice about this though I'm not letting my guard down from that human for a second," Mirage told her.

"I can't blame you. I was hoping we could reach an understanding with the human but I know the squad comes first. Maybe things will change once we get down there," said Vee.

"I really hope so private, once Luna returns we'll..." she started to say just as an octopus swam through the door and changed forms.

"Ah, lieutenant, just in time we were just about to..."

"We gotta hide soon, I spotted a group of octotroopers and octocopters on the other side of the valley accompanied by a squad of octolings. Looks as if we're gonna be relocating after all, Star still guarding the prisoner?" asked Luna.

"That reinforces the decision we got no other options, inform Star private that we're heading out and be sure you keep an eye on that human. I don't need any hindrances or I'll be sure to knock that human's head off this time. Let's move!" she ordered her team. Luna and Mirage headed out the door to secure the area while Vee placed her goggles back on before she told Star what was going on. She then turned to the human who was looking at them cautiously.

"Listen to me, I know you don't understand but we gotta leave and you're coming with us. I done promised my commander that you wouldn't try anything," Vee told the human in her language as she aimed the blaster on Seth and grabbed him up by the arm.

Once they gathered back up, they wasted no time in getting up the ridge back to the site where the elevator was. They ran up the path, as Mirage took point with Luna behind her. Star was covering the rear watching their six to make sure they weren't spotted. Vee had a hold of Seth behind the two black-headed creatures leading the squad. Once they reached pad, Vee found the lever to open it, and down the elevator they went.

After a moment, the team along with the human reached the bottom and the gates in front of them opened up letting them proceed through. They started up a large stairwell until they entered the processing area, looking around seeing the skeletal remains of the humans. "I'm already getting a bad feeling, wonder what happened," said Star.

"Let's keep going and hope that's all we'll run across down here," ordered Mirage. Further into the facility the group stepped into a large atrium, the site of what appeared to be a gun battle from before. "Looks like some kind of fighting took place here, wonder what could of caused it?" asked Luna.

"I don't know if we should pan out and search this place or not. I think it's safe to assume this place is empty by the look of things but I thinks it's better if we stick together," insisted Mirage. She turned t Vee and the human. "Private, you said their were more humans down here in pods. Do you know where?" she asked her.

"If I can remember I think the pods were back this way, why?" Vee asked.

"I wanna be sure that the humans haven't been released so we don't walk into some kind of ambush. Keep that human in your sights and make sure he doesn't make a break for it," Mirage ordered.

Vee nodded and lead the group as she escorted Seth with to the cryo chamber that was housing the pods. On the way there they went through a collection of rooms, an alternate route to the pods. They appeared to be labs and the curiosity was getting the best of the creatures. Star stopped and inspected a lab table contain a station and vials. Luna was scouring through paperwork. The writing was foreign to her, it wasn't octarian. Mirage looked around and spotted posters and diagrams of human biology, seeing organs, the skeleton and muscular system of a human. When she saw the picture of a naked male she grunted followed by a blush with her covering his "anatomy"

"Let's keep moving!" she commanded her team. They left out of the rooms and down a winding hallway with a large metal door at the end. This was the entrance to the cryo chambers.

As the door slid open, Luna and Mirage scanned the area with their weapons up and pointing it at different directions. "It looks clear," said Luna.

"Don't let your guard down yet and stay alert," said Mirage.

The squad broke up and explored the chamber, looking inside the closed pods, seeing the dead humans inside them. They also noticed that a large majority of the pods were already opened. "This is just creepy, I wonder what happened to the humans that were inside the pods that are open?" asked Star.

"Wonder what the humans were doing down here? Their technology is so more advanced than ours," said Luna, astounded by the pods. As Vee and Seth were walking, he tripped on a large cable running across the floor and fell. This startled and Vee and she looked back to see Seth had stumbled on the large cable.

"Hey! You ok?" she asked him in her language. Though nothing but a gurgle in Seth's ears, He looked u at her with a look of indifference as she held her hand out. "Oh, right you can't grab my hand if yours are tied up," she said awkwardly. She grabbed him by the arm and helped him up as he shrugged away. "Excuse me for getting you up," she said.

The team gathered back up after looking around seeing no activity in front of a large console that was controlling the pods. "What is that thing?" asked Star pointing at the large machine.

"Must be controlling these pods. Be best if we didn't touch anything," Mirage said as Luna tapped on the keyboard. The screen came on with codes appearing on it. "Lieutenant! What part of don't touch anything did you not understand!" Mirage shouted.

"I can't read any of that, what's it say?" asked Star.

"Why are you asking me?" said Luna.

"You're the one that activated it," she returned.

Just then something popped up off the console below the giant screen. A bright blue light was emitting from it. "Biological entities detected... running scan..." said the computer. The module shot a grid like light scanning the creatures and Seth. Startled they froze in place until the scan was complete. "Human DNA detected... cephalopod pod-based DNA detected... error...running diagnostics," it said.

"What did that thing just do to us, I don't understand what the shell it's saying?" said Star.

"Voice recorded... language unknown... searching database for translation..." it continued hearing Star's voice.

"...error... language not found in database... please repeat command..."

"This is frustrating how are we supposed to understand it," Star told her team.

"...scanning voice recognition... scan completed... language unknown... error... error," it said as the screen turned black wit a red window on it. The computer was obviously confused and couldn't decipher the creature's language. The module sparked and the blue flashed as the screen kept saying error.

"OK, what's going?" said Star as she and Luna backed away from the console. The group stood back and watched the machine malfunction before the module locked onto Seth and shot a bright beam of light at his head. "Data on unknown language collected... translation program activated... prepare for mental assimilation process..." it said.

"Mental assimilation process? What's tha..." Seth said before he was jolted by the beam and propelled back as if he was just struck by the creature's weapon like before. The computer went haywire and shut down before it could reboot. The computer had managed to process the creatures language through soundwaves and come up with a translation of what the creatures were saying through the noises they made, thus it caused the computer to malfunction and activate a language translation program for users if for some reason, a foreign speaking entity discover the place, but the creatures language couldn't be found in the database so it ran an analysis of what they were saying and redirected that data back to Seth's brain but it was too much at the same time.

"Holy carp!" shouted Luna before they rushed over to see if he was even still alive. He was knocked against another pod and was temporarily unresponsive. "His he breathing?" asked Star. He then gave inhaled and gave a cough before he came to his senses. He blinked and looked up to see the creatures staring at them with relieved expressions.

Just as Vee thought he was dead, he moaned and leaned forward, still sitting against the pod. "Shit what happened?" he muttered.

"W...what? Hey, I could understand you!" shouted Vee.

"What the... I... understood you too, what the hell," said Seth who was confused.

"This is... awesome," said Vee with excitement in her voice. The other three were transfixed. They couldn't believe it. They could understand what Seth was saying. Star and Luna looked at each. Mirage was trying make sense of how they couldn't understand Seth before and now they could, was it something to do with strange device that shot that beam of blue light at him? None the less, since they could now communicate with the human, maybe they could learn more about him, his technology and what happened to his race.

"Well I guess since we talk to each other now, you mind explaining... WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE!" shouted Seth which cause the creatures to jump a little.

"W...w...we're octolings and I guess you're a human," answered Vee still startled by Seth.

"Yeah I'm a human, I assumed all of you were human. What's with the octopus on your head and that... language if I can call it that you were speaking?" He asked.

"Octopus? oh you must mean my tentacles, that's part of my head. As for our language it's octarian but we couldn't understand you before. Why can we understand you now?" she wondered.

"I... don't know. I'm guessing that machine caused this when it shot that laser at me. Everything's been strange since I woke out of that damn pod. My family is missing, everyone's dead or I think they all are... hey wait a minute, have you seen another human like me, well not like me. She's a female, brown hair, brown eyes possibly with an infant anywhere?"

"Um, no, sorry, you're the only human we've encountered so far. You said she... There's another human possibly out there? And what's an infant?"

"A baby, a human like me but much more smaller. Surely you octo-lings were babies when you were born,"

"No we're hatchlings at the beginning of our growth cycle then we take on our bipedal forms," Vee explained.

"hatchlings? So you're not humans after all. Figures. I guess after the nukes and floods wiped out humanity. Well not all of us perished... that stupid project of Blackwell's and the scientists down here tried to preserve us. I don't recall a whole of what happened before I was placed in cryosleep. When I woke up I was confused and scarred, especially seeing know one was around but the dead humans in the other pods and the piles of bones laying around. So I found a way out of this place and that's when you things took me captive," said Seth.

"I watched you come out of that pod, I didn't know what you were so I stayed hidden. Once you activated that lift I went up with you," said Vee.

"I didn't see you, what were you invisible or something... anyway, listen... not to be rude or nothing but I haven't exactly gotten up on the right foot ever since I came out of that pod. I need to get back on the surface and hunt for my wife and child," Seth told them.

"So that pod kept you alive this whole time, for thousands of years?"

"Thousands of...years?"

"Yes, humans have been extinct for thousands of years, seeing you is just extraordinary... to know your the only living hman makes you very vaulable, the octarian scientists would love to see you,"

"Yeah, that makes me feel real good to my race went extinct... thousands of years... I couldn't have been in the pod that long," he said.

Mirage interjected and approached Vee and pulled her aside. "Now that we can talk to him, change this conversation and get him to tell us about this place and his people. If we're gonna set up camp here then I wanna know more about this facility and what we can use," she asked Vee.

"Yes, lieutenant," she complied.

Star and Luna stared at him before a smile appeared on their faces. "OK... what's with you two and why are you looking at me like that?" said Seth as he stood up.

"What, theirs nothing wrong with a flirting, are all human males as handsome as you are?" asked Luna.

"I'm not gonna even answer that question,"

"You said something about seeing another human, a female?" said Star.

"Yes, she's my wife and I'm sure my son is with her,"

"Wife? what's a wife? Is she like your mate,' asked Luna.

"You can say that, I'm guessing your kind doesn't get married or if there are any males. By what I can tell I assume you're females,"

"Oh checking us out are you, don't tell me your not enamored by our beauty human. You know... I can prove to you that I'm definitely a female, just say the word and we can go somewhere private. I already knew you were a male by..."

"...Luna! don't tell him!"

"Tell me what? Of course I'm a dude, you should tell by looking at me and I'll pass on your offer, you're not my type so you can understand this time,"

Vee came back over to the three and looked at her two teammates. "What were you guys talking about?" she asked Luna and Star. "Oh nothing," replied Luna. "Luna was trying to get in the human's... owww," she started to say but then Luna elbowed her to keep quiet.

Vee had a look of suspicion on her face as Star rubbed her shoulder and Luna turned her head. Vee then turned back to Seth and removed her goggles. "My commander wants you to show us around this place. She's interested in knowing about humans and the technology they left behind. This place is just fascinating, it reminds of octo base kinda. It's truly astounding that a human would survive down here this whole time but you are an intelligent species by what we've gathered... oh, my name's Vee well private Vee to be exact,"

"Private Vee, as in rank private? What are in the army or something?"

"Well... yes and no, used to be until we left,"

"So you and your team deserted the army? That's not a good thing, don't know if this army of yours has the same rules as human militaries. Why did you guys decide to leave? If you don't mind me asking,"

"Let's just say our eyes were opened. Octarian society I guess you can say is callous and cruel at times. We live by a system of rank and file with specific "places" that we have to abide by. No freedom only following orders,"

"When I joined the military they were very strict and conforming but we did have freedom, it was just limited. How bad could it have been for you and your team to risk leaving, that's considered dereliction of duty which is harshly punishable,"

"You take risks either which way you go and the octarian army doesn't care about it's troops especially your expendable grunts, we've become nothing more than brainwashed soldiers serving a futile purpose. We aren't the only ones to leave. There are others out there and I just hope they haven't been caught. Desertion is considered treason, punishable by internment or worse, you're splatted,"

"Splatted, that doesn't sound good at all. I hate to hear that. I was a soldier once but I got badly injured on the battlefield and I nearly died if it hadn't been for the medics. I fought for my country and we were never "brainwashed", we enlisted to protect our people from threats during the resource wars. Are your race fighting in any kind of war or are you in peacetime?"

"We were looming toward a war with the inklings, the inklings are a lot like us but squid-based instead of octopus. They can change into a squid while we can change into an octopus at will,"

"Change into an octopus?"

"Yeah, I'll show you,"

Vee all of a sudden turned into a purple figure and then her body morphed into an octopus. Seth's eyes widened and his mouth was swung open. He was at disbelief at what he had just seen. Frozen he , watched her turn back into her humanoid form. "See what I mean, humans can't do that?" asked Vee seeing Seth's expression.

"Uh, N...no we can't. How the hell... N...never mind, this world keeps getting stranger and stranger. This can't be earth... or not anymore, what the shit happened while I was asleep," said a bewildered Seth. "So I's guessing you were the octopus I saw shoot up when I chased you," he turned and asked her, nodding in response to his question.

"Private! what are you doing? I've done asked you to get the human to show us around this place," said an agitated Mirage who approached them, watching their idle conversation. She then turned and looked at Seth. "I overheard something about you being a soldier and something about wars. Could you care to explain human," she continued.

"First off my name's Seth just to let you know and no offense but you octo-things didn't give me a good first impression, you tie me up, shoot me and expect me to help you,"

"We only did that because we've never seen a human before, not a live one anyway. You were armed and we assumed that you might have been a scout sent by scarlet's forces or something until we inspected you. I wasn't taking the chance and the safety of my squad comes first,"

"That's understandable I guess but... wait you said live one what do you mean, I know you're not referring to the stiffs in the pods since it's your first time down here. Were their other humans around before you caught me?"

"The only humans we've ever come across were fossilized remains. Not sure when your kind died out and why they did. Has it got something to do with the wars you mentioned?" asked Mirage.

"I'm guessing you're the leader and I guess that answers the question if humanity survived the resource wars or the flooding. I am the last human left unless my wife and son are alive that is. I'm looking for them...before you took me in as your prisoner,"

"Wife? son? is that some kind of rank for you humans?"

"No it isn't... as I told your teammate, my wife would be equilivant to a mate I guess in your termonlogy and my son would be my offspring. Listen the more I hang around here the lesser my chances are of finding them. That's my mission you can say and I could care less about why you wanted down here. You can have whatever you find in this damn place.

"Octarians do find mates if we can and produce offspring, I guess you can say we do form families but our system requires that we devote ourselves to the octarian hierarchy and submit to our ruler. It's because of that why we abandoned our duty to find a better life on the surface if we can. Hearing about you losing your family and trying to find them is hard to understand because we have always been raised to serve octarian society putting the collective over anything else meaning also above a guess you can call it a "family structure". I wish my people were more like humans and I can admire determination to find them. I hope you do find your family hum, I mean Seth. I want to know more about your race and history but I would like to request that you stick around and show us more of this place and then maybe we can help you. We'll establish a base of operations here. I don't think Scarlet's forces will find us,"

"You'll be willing to help me?" asked Seth in turn, Mirage nodded. "Soldiers watch each others backs, even if we are a different species," she told him causing him to smile and then she had a half smile on her face but that quickly vanished.

"I'm glad we've established diplomacy or I should say relations with you," Vee said to Seth. "I guess... I am too but to know you're possibly the last human in existence is unsettling and depressing," he replied.

"I can see your point but I'm glad I met you and I hope you do find your family soon. A family is something we octarians can't always look out for. The lieutenant and the rest of my team is closest thing I have to a family,"

"Really? You don't have one?" Seth asked. Vee's expression turned distressed before she could compose herself. Seth regretted asking, telling by Vee's mood something must've happened to them. "Like I said, my team is the only family I have," she said to him.

"Not to cut our conversation short but I think I'm going to hunt for a shower. I haven't taken one in over a thousand years or however long its been. That grimy floor has got me smelling like that mildew infested house we were in. Plus I need to calm my nerves a little and think about my situation. I'm still processing encountering you guys and dwelling on being the last human around. Then we can go exploring and possibly find some food. I'm getting hungry and I'm sure they're rations or something in this place. I'll be back," said Seth to the octolings as he walked off.

"I feel bad for him. Being the last human, it's really sad," said Star. "what about you Luna?...Luna?" asked Star, realizing that she had vanished. Vee and Mirage had left to go talk and let Seth hunt for a place to wash off.

Meanwhile, Seth finally found the showers. He undressed on a bench across from the shower stalls but a figure was watching from the doorway. It was Luna who decided to take it upon herself to make an advance on Seth. She gave a grin and octo formed before scurrying across the floor a little closer inside the shower room and hiding out of sight in another stall. Now unclothed, he stepped inside the stall across from the bench on the far side of the room. As soon as he turned the water on he let it warm up, the noise echoed through the room and couldn't hear the little octopus swim towards him from stall to stall until she was right next to his. She changed back to her bipedal form behind the curtain from his stall.

Not noticing what was going on and with the shower filling up with steam, the octopus girl immediately pulled off her armor and then her boots until she was down to nothing. Eager to make a move on Seth, not caring if he was a human she approached the curtain and watched Seth. She licked her lips and reached her hand out to touch his back but before she could touch him she was instantly pulled back and was met with a slap across the face, leaving a handprint on her cheek. With a yelp she held her face and saw her team leader with a infuriated expression on her face before getting dragged out of the stall and thrown on the bench before getting her clothes tossed to her.

"I better not ever catch you pulling a stunt like that again! Understand me Luna!"

"Y...yes lieutenant..." she said as she shook. Mirage gave a nod and started to leave without Seth noticing what had happened and continued to was himself. "Star said you disappeared and I knew where to find you. I saw your eyes lit up when you heard he was going to take a shower, report back and don't ever do something like this again," said Mirage, not looking back at her team member as Luna was getting dressed.

As Mirage left the room she looked back at the occupied stall. "Spoiled sport, I haven't had a piece in a while. I just think she has a thing for that human... ah well, had my fingers crossed," she said to herself as she got her boots on. Luna left as Seth was finishing his shower and returned to her squad with the red handprint still on her face. Star laughed when she found out how she got it.

Overtime, Seth shared to the octolings what he remembered about his species and what caused them to go extinct. Each of them were perplexed by human civilization and culture. They were troubled to hear that nuclear war and rising seawaters finished off what was left of humanity. He told them about being placed in the cryopod and the events that unfolded before he was put on ice, including his family. Vee, out of all of them seemed the most entuned one out of the team that was the most interested hearing how human culture was like and she yearned to have her own family and wish that octarian society was like the human's.

Then the octolings shared their story about their race and others like the inklings that inhabit the earth as the dominant species. They talked about Octavio, octarian society, their strife with the inklings from since the great turf war and now going AWOL from the army. Seth was intrigued but at the same time baffled that the world had become something from a video game or cartoon. The world he knew was gone and he had to accept that but wasn't losing hope that we would find, Sarah his wife and Virgil is baby boy.

Hunger struck them and they came across a storage area filled with supplies and food. The creatures chowed down once Seth showed them how to heat and eat an MRE. They had never had rations as good as human MREs and were grateful Seth would let them eat. As they were enjoying their food, Seth laid his meal down and decided to go exploring, leaving the table for the octolings to finish their food. Vee saw him leave as the others were busying enjoying the MREs. She left and Mirage who stayed off to herself, leaning against a crate watched her follow Seth further in the storage bay. Thoughts were running into her head as she shook it and gave a deep sigh before walking off herself out of sight.

"These things are awesome! I wish the octarian army would've issued food this good," said Star as she had a mouth full of food.

"Yeah, all we get is those smelly sardines and maybe chopped kelp in a can," Luna said before taking another bite.

The two then noticed when they got finished and threw the empty pack aside, that Seth, Vee and their leader were missing. "Huh? Where'd they go?" asked Star. Luna shrugged and grabbed another MRE.

Seth was inspecting more crates inside the bay, their were military vehicles parked against the wall filled with containers. He opened one crate that had cargo netting around with the word weapons on an inventory sheet taped to the crate. As he slid the lid over and dropped it, he looked inside and saw assault rifles. He picked one up and looked at it. It had never been issued and still had a coat of oil on it. He grabbed a mag from the bottom and cocked the weapon. Looking down the sight he was familiar with it. It brought back memories of when he was on the defense front overseas fighting an adversary that was threatening the united states, the country he grew up in and lived in. The rifle was a Sig MCX Virtus with an Sig bravo 4 optic and other accessories.

Looking through the sight again, behind him he heard approaching footsteps that startled him as he quickly aimed the weapon and pointed it toward Vee. "Eeeppp," she cried, seeing the rifle in her face. Seth lowered the weapon, not expecting it to be the octoling. "Sorry about that but you walked up on me, that's something you should never do especially with a weapon in my hand," he told her sternly.

"I was worried about you, I didn't mean to startle you," she told him. "I guess seeing that human weapon jarred your soldier instincts back, I watched you pick it up. That's pretty cool, what was your rank if you don't mind me asking," she wondered.

"I was a sergeant when I was put on medical leave. I had a team I was in charge of, not sure whatever became of them. I was out of commission for a while. So much was going on I never asked anybody. I just hope they made it out and got to return to their families," he told her.

"Must've been tough, you having to recover and your team is still out on the frontlines. I'm sure they were worried about you as much as you were about them. Us octarians are seen as expandable and empathy isn't shown among our ranks... but maybe that's because we return to the spawning station back at base too, still it's scary," said Vee.

"so you guys... respawn after you're... killed? As in coming back to life. I'm beginning to believe I am living in a video game. Just to return and fight. That in a way can be excruciating and traumatizing to steadily be deployed back on the battlefield but at least you guys come back after you're slain... humans don't,"

"Humans can't... respawn, then what happens?"

"Death... as in never coming back, ever,"

"So that means you,"

"Yes... but I was fortunate when I was struck by that RPG. Don't know how I made it in one piece. God was really looking out for me that day, just glad I could go home to my family and not get redeployed,"

"I'm glad you didn't die neither. To know a fellow octarian wouldn't get respawned is horrifying. If that happened to Mirage or Star and Luna for that matter I'm not sure how I would take it,"

"How do you guys respawn? I don't know of any technology that existed that could bring killed people back to life,"

"Not sure, the engineers build our spawn points and weapons,"

"Speaking of weapon, how does that thing work. In my time we had water guns that looked like that. What is that purple gunk I got shot with, it hurt, kinda burned a little and it was messing with my nervous system. I couldn't move or feel anything wherever I got struck at,"

"It shoots ink, the ink is produced and is stored in our tanks. It's our only means of attack and defense. We also got octo brushes and our engineers were trying to reverse engineer inkling weapons like the splatling, duelies, rollers and I think the chargers too that we managed to steal from them,"

"Not sure what any of that is so, you shoot ink as in octopus ink or something,"

"Yeah, what about that human weapon? What does it shoot since I'm sure you can't produce ink, not being an octoling obviously,"

"Metallic projectiles called bullets. They're propelled out of the barrel at incredible velocity and puncture a target. Compared to that ink shooter, you don't wanna get hit especially in a vital part of your body. I've been shot before out on the field. It's incredibly painful but thankfully I was struck in the shoulder so it wasn't an urgent wound but still hurt like a mother,"

"You don't mind if I hold it. My curiosity is peaked. It looks heavy,"

"Um, sure... just let me unload it first. I don't want you accidentally pulling the trigger and shooting anyone, I don't think any of you guys are a certified medic,"

"What's a medic," she asked as he handed her the empty weapon.

"That just proved my point,"

Vee held the weapon, it was awkward to her and looking down the sight was strange as her octo shot was in no way comparable to the rifle except they shot a projectile at their targets. Though the rifle was heavy even for Seth, it was no issue to the octoling girl. What Seth didn't understand about the octoling's biology was they were very stout. Sharing the same strength as a human body builder, being able to pick up at the most 5x there weight even as short as she was compared to him though her body frame was broader.

She handed the weapon back to Seth who then took it. "I'll just stick with my octo shot," she said, which Seth gave back to Vee after holding it and studying the goofy gun.

"It's unfamiliar if not alien to you, I understand you've trained on that weapon and you can produce the ammo for it with your body. Unlimited ammo, that's pretty cool,"

"It's not what I would call unlimited. We have to recollect and then reproduce the ink after we've used it up. Our bodies can only produce so much ink at a given period of time. We can also hide in our own ink when we're in our octopus form. The effects of our ink on enemies will slow them down or splat them if their pelted enough. Unlike you, that ink didn't have a strong effect on you,"

"It still hurt! And it felt weird,"

Vee chuckled which in turn Seth laughed a little himself. Unknown to the two who were enjoying the time together alone. Mirage was peering out from behind a pile of crates. She had watched to two for a few minutes and thoughts were returning to her head. She had a growing admiration for Seth. He didn't carry the same mindset as the octarian troops she served with under Octavio, the leader of her people and it seemed Vee was getting attached, she could see it and it was conflicting. Her teammate, also foster sister she thought strongly of and trust vs a human soldier she was growing attached to. She gave a groan and shook her head, walking away dwelling on her thoughts before returning to where Star ad Luna were. The two of them passed out from the MREs they scarfed, Star laying on the table as Luna was leaned back in a chair fast asleep.

Mirage saw them and walked over to slam the table. They jerked awake seeing their leader propped over staring at them behind her goggles. "This isn't nap time you two octopi! You two sea pigs have been stuffing your faces, that means I'm gonna run that weight off you two. Meet me back in that atrium for PT on the double," she snapped at them as she stormed out of the bay.

"What was that all about?" asked Star.

"She seemed in a fowl mood all of a sudden," replied Luna with her arms crossed.

"She was just joking right?"

"It didn't sound like it, better get our butts up before she gets more ticked,"

Later when Star and Luna were lying on the floor exhausted from their "punishment" for their gluttonous behavior and possibly being targets for Mirage's discontentment for seeing Vee and Seth conversating at the back of the storage bay. Jealousy ran through her but she would try to deny herself that had any kind infatuation with the human.

Vee and Seth on the other hand entered the large lobby seeing the two octolings out of breath. "Lieutenant what's going?" asked Vee.

"Oh, nothing. Just making sure these two are in tip top shape. We may have set up a base here but that doesn't mean we'll stay in a static position the whole entire time. I will have you and someone patrolling the area. Even though this place is hidden and out of sight shouldn't give us assurances that the octarian forces won't advance this way and not discover this place and find us. I want constant surveillance and I noticed an array and some antennas outside. I assume theirs some way of tapping into the communication network here," said Mirage as she turned to Seth.

"I remember this place was operated by the American military years ago before I was placed in cryosleep so I'm sure there is comm office here to monitor channels but why? Why would you want to..."

"...because the octarians have their own network, I'm hoping the equipment here can pick it up and we'll know what they're doing and track their movements,"

"I would say that's reason enough, pretty smart but are you sure you can do that. I don't know if it will even work as old as it is,"

"Sergeant Star is great with electronics. I'm sure human tech isn't too advance for her to work on, but you need to find out were the comms station is in this place and see if you can get it up and running... once she's recuperated. I'll send Luna with you to help too,"

"You got it, wow I'm taking orders from an octo-ling. I gotta get used to that, feels like I'm back in the military,"

"You will be taking orders from me, I know we just met but with what I've heard and seen. I could use your skills and expertise. I would appreciate it if you could train my team. You said you were a sergeant in the human military,"

"Affirmative, why?"

"That's the rank you will keep then, though we don't use our real names. We go by code names like Mirage, which isn't my real name to let you know,"

"Oh, I thought it was. That's cool I guess, we had nicknames too when I was in the service, also each team had a callsign too. I'll get used to it again...hmm... how about Sergeant... Iceman,"

"Ice-man?" Mirage raising an eyebrow and snuffing the nickname.

"Because I was frozen in time, you know inside the cryopod,"

"I don't like it,"

"Huh... but you said to pick out a code name didn't you?... well what would you prefer?"

"Fossil," she said blatantly

"Fossil... I kind of take offense to that,"

"Just kidding... keep your name,"

"I think you're messing with me too, and I would use my last name so it would be sergeant Matthison,"

"I can't remember that, just stick with sergeant Seth,"

"Very well, you bring up code names and won't even let me have one... octopus head,"

"Watch it bone boy, I'm still your superior. I'm not worried about finding you a code name right now just seeing if we get any signal on the frequency of the comms tower up top. Take Star and Luna and tell them what needs to be done, inform them on the mission,"

"Roger that, lieutenant,"

He walked over to Luna and Star as they were slowly recovering. Vee walked over and looked at Mirage. "Must you be hard on him, making him apart of the team so you could bark orders to him,"

"Don't take it the wrong way private but with his expertise and knowledge about this place I needed him. I could've just left him tied up in that house and not care what happened to him but I didn't. He's been useful for us and I give him gratitude but I need as much resources as I can get. I am willing to help him but I want him to help me before we can try and track his family down, all I'm asking in return is that he now be a part of this squad and that means treating him like a part of the squad,"

Vee remained quiet, she knew getting in a debate with her commander would be futile. "When we get everything squared away with the comms then I'll assigning pairs to go out on patrol. "It'll be sergeant Star and lieutenant Luna on the first sweep, then I'll pair you with Seth. Partners will be changed around at every given day, including me from time to time. I'm not gonna just stand in here and look at all four sides of the same walls. I'll put Luna in charge to monitor the radio network and we'll stay in touch just in case something comes up, do you copy?"

"Crystal, ma'am," replied Vee.

"That's what I like to hear, once they're done I'll brief them what I told you. Then we'll hunt for some beds, it's getting late, and everyone will be sleeping by themselves. I'm not gonna take any crap out of Luna,"

"What'd Luna do?"

"It's nothing, I'll leave it that,"

Inside the comms center of the facility. Star managed to get the equipment working, though it took a lot of time and effort and the channels were still full of static but what did you expect out of thousands of year old military hardware. "Well at least everything's working, kind of. We'll have to go check out the antennas and all. They probably need to be repaired too. We'll tackle that tomorrow, in the meantime... I just wanna relax, I'm still sore from all those push ups Mirage made us do," said Star as she got finished tinkering, closing the wiring panel to the consoles.

"All cool, the cameras came online too," she said as she turned and saw the security monitors come on. Their was feed in different parts of the base including a few that was showing the outside of the facility. Then they turned to a screen showing the atrium where Mirage and Vee were talking. Star stuck her face in front of the screen and stuck out her tongue and pulled one of the bags of her eyes down. As a disrespected gesture she shot toward her commander from in front of the screen.

"You guys are something else but I've seen my share of antics in the military when I was in the service," said Seth, shaking his head at their immature demeanors.

"How about you service me Seth since that lieutenant isn't here to interfere," said Luna as she hugged Seth's arm and gave a smirk.

"What did I say about you not being my type," he told her, trying to pull his arm from her grasp.

"Oh come on, what about a quickie, how long has it been since... you know," she replied, reeling him in closer.

"Luna you need to stop, he said he wasn't interested," said Star.

"I was gonna share him,"

"You were... if that's the case then..." Star implied before running over and hugging Seth's other arm.

"Knock it off you two! Did you forget that I'm trying t find my wife and kid, I'm not looking for a date or easy pickup," he said, finally shaking them off.

"Well, what if you don't find her, I'm available," said Luna, brushing her tentacle aside.

"you two are hopeless, if we're done here then we need to head back to your commander,"

"Oh c'mon, let's have some fun for change instead of doing work for Mirage. I tell you she gets under my tentacles some time,"

"No thanks, what I've been through. I'm not in the mood anyway and I'm not getting reamed by your commander. Being a soldier again is working on my nerves as it is but if means getting closer to finding my wife and child then so be it,"

"I got a remedy for that," Luna told him with a conniving grin.

"Just quit already, you just can't take a hint can you," he told her getting more irritated by the second.

"Hey, when I like something I can't help myself, we octoling girls are that way,"

"Clingy," he shot at her.

"You can say that, so how about it?"

Seth just shot her a glare and proceeded out the door before the octoling kept making advances on him. "Well you ruined that," said Star.

"Oh whatever, I tried... he'll come around,"

"I think Vee likes him, I've seen how shy she is around that human,"

"Hmph, the private...please, he needs a real girl... Vee is too shallow for a guy like that," she told Star, waving her hand and brushing her tentacles back.

"I think they would make a cute couple,"

"Let's just get back to Mirage," she snapped at Star, now getting agitated like Seth from her comment.

After the squad gathered around for their briefing with the commander. They decided to retire and came across the quarters of the facility staff. Seeing some skeletons lying around creeped the team out but they were anxious to go to sleep. The octolings came across a vacant room that seemed untouched with clean bunks that looked comfortable. They all picked out a bed, except Seth who was going to hunt for a separate room to himself.

"You're not gonna pick a bed?" asked Vee.

"No, in the military males and females don't sleep in the same barracks and I just wanna be to myself," he told her.

"Oh don't be like that, theirs an empty bed next to me," said Luna with a smirk as she laid on her bed in a lewd pose.

"Luna, can it!" Mirage snapped. "The octarians also segregated their genders in the army but with their only being 5 of us now, I would prefer you to stick around if something were to happen, I don't want you alone. The team sticks together," protested Mirage.

"Sorry, lieutenant... I maybe be a part of your squad now but I can't comply with your request. I would rather sleep to myself and I'll be in the room across the hall. I won't be that far... besides..." said Seth bobbing his head toward Luna's direction.

"(sigh) very well, I won't make you sleep in the same room with us. You're permitted to sleep in a different room but let me remind you that you do as you're told, human or not. You're now a part of my squad, do I make myself clear,"

"Yes, ma'am,"

Seth left out with Luna grumbling. Vee watched him leave feeling worried about hi,. She wondered what was bothering him. "Private, find a bunk and get some rest, you're gonna need it for tomorrow,"

"Yes, lieutenant... it's just..."

"Don't worry about him, I just think he needs some time to think. That's why I allowed it... I know how he feels,"

"Lieutenant, how much longer do we have to keep hiding? When will we reach the surface?"

"That I can't answer. I hope soon enough, private. Right now I'm ready to retire and I don't want any problems out of you Luna," she said as directing toward the other elite.

"Huh, I won't pull anything, you sent him across the hall remember," she said with a fake innocent expression. Mirage pointed to her eyes and then back to her, gesturing that she would keep a close watch on her. She felt insulted and turned over in her bed looking at the wall. Star was already fast asleep, Vee would eventually lay on her bed but had a hard time falling asleep, dwelling on Seth.

In the room across from them, Vee wasn't the only one having a hard time sleeping. Seth was pacing around the room after he couldn't get comfortable in his bed. He rubbed his head and thought about leaving even if Mirage made him a part of the team. The octolings seemed friendly as they got to know each other but Seth was too focused and stressed to think about his family and going out alone to hunt for them.

Eventually his eyes would get heavy. Seth stretched and decided to go ahead and lay down. He blinked and soon his eyes shut, falling asleep and visions soon ensued of his life before he woke up into this strange new world, now inhabited by cephalo-based humanoids. Back across the hall, Luna decided to wake up, she was determined to sneak into Seth's room with perverse intentions. She got up and crept past her teammates and slowly opened the door but Mirage wasn't fully asleep, she opened her eye and saw Luna leave the room, knowing what she was up to.

Luna turned the knob to the door of Seth's quarters but as she slowly opened it, she was grabbed from behind and turned to see a hand smack her on the check... yet again. "Now you have a hand mark to match the other... now would you return to your bunk and stay there for the rest of the night, lieutenant!"

"Yes, ma'am," she muttered holding her cheek. Luna returned to the room as Mirage slowly opened the door seeing Seth was still asleep. Thankfully he was undisturbed but thoughts were conflicting in her mind as she shrugged them off and she returned to bed. Luna feel asleep rubbing her face and Mirage would eventually doze off, still bothered by her feelings for the human.

The night went by and a new day would approach. Oh what new adventures awaited the team of octolings and their new member Seth. Now part of the squad of deserters, he still couldn't get adjusted to the new world he woke up in. He prayed he would find his family as soon as he could, fearing they something could happen to them in this hostile environment. He thought about how the octolings reacted to his encounter and the mention of others like their kind were hunting them down just added to his unease. Let's hope things fair better for the human.

Hope you've liked the chapter. Had to go back multiple times and do spell checks and corrections. I will remake the Intro and Prologue in the future. Below I've done character descriptions for the story so you'll know their personalities, roles, appearences, etc.

Seth Matthison

Seth is a young male human in his early 20s. Height about 6'0". A former soldier of the Defense Front for the US army to counterattack opposition against America and it's allies during the resource wars that plagued and eventually ended humanity. He is fair skinned with short brownish-blonde hair and blue eyes. He has marks on his torso from fragmentation on the battlefield, the reason why he was put on medical leave. Retuning to his family, only to be kidnapped and placed in cryostasis under his former superior officer and an unknown corporation for a super soldier program and preservation for humans. His demeanor is two sided, one side his laid back civilian personality and the other his instinctive and well-trained soldier when that part of him has to come out. He woke up over 2,000 years later to discover the land has drastically changed and is now inhabited by cephalopod based and oceanic creatures that are now the dominating species.

Private Vee (based on Poool157's Lilia)

A young meek octoling that was drafted into the octarian army. She would be in her late teens, presumably 18 in human age. She stands about 5'6" and is fair skinned with red curly tentacles, green and white eyes with purple rings around them. As mentioned before she is the meek and mild one out of her team but compassionate, a trait that is considered odd for her species. Her history is still unknown but it seems bringing up her parents makes her very uneasy. She is seen as the little sister of the group and her timidness makes her vurnarable and hesitant when it comes to fighting, often making the team having to watch out for her. When she met Seth, she was curious and as she got to hang around and then know him and his mannerisms and how human society was like, she became enamored by him but kept her feelings hidden from him and the others.

Sergeant Star (based on Poool157's Lacey)

The "tinkerer" of the group and busy body. She was an octarian engineer for a period of time before getting reassigned as a soldier. She can repair devices and weapons at a given expense and is good friends with Luna. Star is energetic and talkative, a near opposite of Vee who she always comforts. She is slightly older than the private and stands a little taller too. Her tentacles are red but shorter, her skin is darker and her eyes are blue and white with eye rings around them. Always smiling, she always keeps her head up and thinks positive even in battle. She enjoys music and often cuts up with Luna to pass the time.

Lieutenant Luna (based on Poool157's Luna)

The weapon specialist of the squad and trouble maker. Luna has a checkered past during and before her time in the army but her skills were admired and excelled her above the ranks as an elite. Quick and agile, she is a formidable fighter able to observe her enemy and spot any weaknesses before facing them. She has handled all weapons that have been issued to the octarian army including inkling turf weapons that were captured. She stands just under Seth's height, elites are often a little taller than regular octolings, her black tentacles signifying her superiority. She has purple and white eyes with eye rings as well. Instead of curled back tentacles they have straightened down. Unlike elites though she has removed her kelp stalks, denouncing her commitment to the chain of command but keeping her rank and black tentacle color. She instantly swooned over Seth at first glance to constantly flirt with him only for his looks and a certain extremity she admired. Persistent and unwilling to give up in battle, she is determined to show she is the best.

Lieutenant Mirage/Commander (based on Poool157's Lilith)

The leader and coordinator of the squad, Mirage get's her name from her sniping and infiltration skills which she has mastered. She is able to allude the most treacherous situations and garners intel on her enemies without ever being seen, like a ninja. A well disciplined soldier in the army proving to excel all expectations as an octoling soldier, she was assigned to be a part of Octavio's elite guards, the most honorable occupation an octoling could be assigned too, she was also the leader for this unit until Calamari inkantation affected her and the defeat of Octavio in Octo Valley by agent 3. The army was in disarray and Mirage left the valley, confused and no longer devoted to the octarian military. After a time of seclusion outside the valley on the surface, she came across Luna and soon Star, then eventually Vee who all set off to search for a new life and purpose but was cut short, before they could leave Octarian territory, the army was reassigned to search for and detain all deserters and "reprogram" them back to Octavio's commands. They narrowly escaped Scarlet's forces, the new leader of a task force that was in charge of capturing and hunting down deserters and traitors. Now they find themselves here in the far corner of the octarian dome colonies hiding from their people. When they encountered Seth, Mirage took him as a spy and threat until she discovered he was a human which made her more defensive and leery of him. Once they got to know each other, like Vee she was intrigued by his demeanor and soldiering skills learning he was part of the human military. Reserved and stoic most of the time, she pressed for him to join her unit on terms that she would help find his lost family. Mirage isn't callous all the time as she shows a softer side rarely. Like Luna her tentacles are black, long but curled. Behind her goggles which she wears most of the time to hide her emotions, are her yellow and white eyes with eye rings. She stands just under Seth's height next to Luna's and as mentioned before about her emotions, she has a growing admiration for Seth and is conflicted by it, feeling emotions she's never used before and constantly battling them to retain her commanding and strict disposition.

Scarlet (based on Poool157's Scarlet)

Only mentioned and unknown at this time, She is apparently an acting commander for the octarians tracking down deserters and traitors that tried to abandon the valley after Octavio's defeat by agent 3.

Sarah Matthison

The wife of Seth, slightly younger than him and was placed in cryostasis along with her infant. Her height is 5'9" give or take. Fair skinned, reddish blonde hair and greenish-hazel eyes. Her status is unknown.

Virgil Matthison

The infant son of both Seth and Sarah, not even a year old, was last seen with Sarah in the cryopod, like his mother his status is unknown.

Blackwell

Seth's former superior in the military and one of the heads of the super soldier program. He is in his late 30s and stands taller than Seth. A well disciplined soldier, he helped abduct Seth and his family for the program. His status is unknown at this time.

I'm trying to do better you guys and would appreciate suggestions and keep sending me comments, whether they're bad or good. Hope you've enjoyed the read. I'll start another chapter as soon as I can and sorry for the crappy prologue. Will go back and remake it.