Splatoon Afterworld

by drz1990

Explained in the intro

7. Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Back at the facility, Maxine had just woken up from her nap. She had slept in Mirage's office and left Sigma to watch over the inkling prisoners. The octoling sergeant stretched her arms out and got up to go check on her partner and the squids. Leaving the office and heading up to the atrium, the octoling didn't see the inklings nor Sigma around anywhere. "Huh, Sigma...where'd they go. I specifically instructed him to keep an eye on those inklings," said Maxine.

Looking back she heard movement followed by voices. She spotted the inklings coming from the corridor leading to the quarters and the storage bay but she didn't see Sigma. "Hey! Where have you been and where's my specialist!" she questioned the group of inklings.

"How should we know?" said Jazz.

"Well he was in the warehouse...he told us to come back here," said Bill.

"You squids were supposed to stay here. I don't need you just wondering around this place without an escort. The specialist is going to catch an earful when I find him," said Maxine.

"What do you expect us to do then. When are we going home?" asked Lily.

"That I couldn't tell you. You think I like being here," replied the octoling.

"We're never getting back are we, admit it," said Dexter.

"Listen here squid I don't have time for..." Maxine started to tell but then she heard running coming from down the hallway where the inklings entered the atrium. She saw a figure approach expecting it to be Sigma but what she didn't expect was once he entered the room the specialist wasn't in his octarian uniform but the smallest set of human military uniforms he could fine. Now donning a camo top and pants, a helmet covering his tentacles and instead of his octoshot he was holding was one of the rifles he grabbed out of the weapons crate.

"Sorry, Sergeant. I had to follow the inklings. They went inside that warehouse where all the human weapons were so I..." he started to say as the octoling was out of breath.

"What on earth are you wearing?...where's your uniform and weapon!?" she scolded the octoling male.

"Oh this...I couldn't help myself. This is much more comfortable than those tight issued uniforms. You should try wearing this sergeant there..."

"I don't wanna hear it specialist! First you let the inklings leave the atrium and now you return out of uniform and weaponless. Give me one reason I shouldn't smack the living ink out of you right now!"

"But sergeant. I did as you commanded. I couldn't help that the inklings left so I followed them and watched them back at the warehouse. It's not fair I was the only to play squidsitter,"

"That doesn't matter. You were given an order and couldn't even do that right. I want you out of those clothes and back into your uniform. Am I clear specialist,"

"Yes, sergeant,"

"Good...if anything like this happens again I'll nail your butt to the wall and use it for target practice...and I wanna see that octoshot in your hand when you get back,"

Sigma left back for the storage bay to put his octarian uniform back on and retrieve his ink weapon. Maxine stood back and looked at the dissatisfied inklings, weary and ready to get back to Inkopolis. "I'm sorry you inklings are having to patiently wait for us to return you to your territory but after what happened at the workers' village I'm not risking us to go hunt for a way back to surface with just me and my specialist left," she told them.

The inklings remained quiet, still unhappy with the situation but they knew she was right. They dispersed and sat around the atrium in hopes that things would soon take a turn for the better. Bill and Jazz whispered amongst each other. Lily sat amongst herself on the floor and Dexter just leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He was contemplating to just leave without them and find his own way back to Inkopolis without the help of the octolings.

"I haven't heard anything out of that scientist. I better go check up on her," said Maxine as she left the atrium. Dexter watched her leave and walked over to where Lily was at. "Hey, I'm fed with this waiting game. I'm gonna find my own way back to the surface. You wanna come?" he asked her.

"Huh, your leaving... but didn't you hear what she said," Lily told him.

"I don't care what that octopus said. I'm not going insane waiting here. You gonna go with me or not?" he asked.

"I...guess so, how are you gonna get back,"

"Certainly not sticking around here, that's for sure,"

"What if we get caught or something. I don't wanna go back to that place again,"

"Don't worry we won't get caught. Just stick with me and we'll make it,"

"How about Bill and Jazz. Are we gonna let them come too?"

"I got a feeling boy scout and his girlfriend aren't gonna be ok with us just going out on our own. He's just probably squeal on us to those two octopi. I say we just sneak away and by the time they figure out we're missing we'll be halfway to Inkopolis. So what do ya say,"

"I'm in,"

"That's what I wanted to hear. Let's go before they notice us,"

The two of them squid formed and headed toward the elevator while Jazz and Bill were too busy talking with one another. Once they reached the processing area, Dexter spotted the elevator and got on followed by Lily. "Are you sure about this. I'm starting to feel bad, leaving Bill and Jazz behind," said Lily.

"Hey, if you wanna stay back then be my guest but I'm not wasting my time sticking around another minute here," Dexter said as he played with the elevator controls.

"No, let's go before they find out we're gone," said Lily.

"There we go..." said Dexter as the elevator started to ascend after figuring out how to work it.

While the two inklings sneaked out of the facility. Sigma returned to the warehouse to retrieve his gear. He grumbled to himself, displeased with his sergeant barking at him in front of the inklings.

"I'm getting fed with playing second tentacle. I have to go through so much crap with sergeant and those ungrateful squids. Why can't I get some R&R for once?" Sigma said to himself. He pulled off the uniform shirt and threw it down to retrieve is octarian top and plate. Then he pulled the uniform pants off and put back on his issued ones.

"These uniforms suck, we're not in the army so why do I have to wear them? The sarge is working my last nerve, the sooner we get out of here the better," he complained. He jumped into a hmwvv and brooded until the glove compartment suddenly opened. He looked over and spotted what looked a sports illustrated magazine. The cover had a human female in a bikini but the wording was in human language and unreadable to the octoling male.

"Huh, what's this?" he said as he looked at it. "This must be a human female...wow, she's hot, a lot better looking than any octoling female but what is she wearing...it's so...revealing, this can't be some kind of uniform. There's no protection," he said before skimming through the pages.

He shook his and threw the magazine aside. "No Sigma...get your mind out of the gutter, who got a job to do and the sergeant is waiting on you," he told himself. He peeked over toward the magazine laying on the passenger side of the vehicle. "(sigh) Human females are pretty...there chest are bigger too, somewhat arousing...I wish I could go out with a human female," he said.

Sigma hopped out of the hmvww and closed the door. He spotted his octoshot laying on the hood near the weapons crate. "Who am I kiddin'. If I couldn't even pick up a female octoling. what's to say I could try to court a human. There's no more humans around anyway besides that one that was hanging around that defected unit from before. I heard something about more humans like him deeper in the facility. Could more be alive?" he asked.

He pondered and thought if there could've been any females around too. Surely there was if there were any plans to resettle and repopulate the human race. Curiosity was getting the best of him and wanted to see for himself. He went back to grab the swimsuit magazine and slip it into his back pocket before he left the storage bay. He didn't care if the sergeant wanted him back, now was his chance to see a real female human and maybe get her to fall for the young male octoling as he was wishing could happen. Sigma headed for cryochamber instead of heading back to the atrium. He was determined to see if he could find a human female and court her after looking at the women in the swimwear magazine he placed in his back pocket.

Maxine went to go search for Velma after she left the group of inklings. She finally found her but when she came into the lab the sight of the human laying on the examination bed frightened her. "There you...what's going on, where did this human come from!?" she exclaimed.

Velma didn't expect the sergeant to waltz into the lab and startled her, stunned at how to explain the situation. "S...sergeant I wasn't expecting you. I can explain everything," Velma said.

"You better, what's the meaning of this," the sergeant demanded, gesturing to the unconscience human.

"(sigh) We were trying to keep this under wraps. You see this human woke up this morning and then he just passed out. Not sure why though so Seth brought him back into one of the examination rooms. After that lieutenant and her unit left he woke up again but this time he was erratic and I had to sedate him. So, afterward I brought him here to study him. Call me crazy but I think there's a connection between us and the humans by the data I've collect from the facility's computers," explained the octoling scientist.

"Connection? I think you've worked under Scarlet for too long. I don't see how that's even possible," objected the sergeant.

"It may seem that way but I uncovered something about us and the humans. Yes we're very different but I believe the humans attempted a way to survive their extermination besides using the cryopods. I remember watching a video with a human scientist on it along with what I believe was one of our ancestors. Seth translated the video for me and he explained how they were using cephalopod DNA for some project they were working on to survive the war and the rising seawaters," Velma iterated as she sat in front of the computer.

"I don't see where you are getting at...and I don't appreciate this being kept from me no matter if you were ordered to keep this under secrecy. As far as I'm concerned I'm not sure whether to trust you or not. You say you escaped octo base because of how Scarlet was treating you and the other researchers. How am I supposed to know whether you're telling the truth or whether this is all just a facade," said Maxine as she approached Velma.

"How dare you come at me after what I've been through. You have some nerve sergeant, after all you and that male left octo base. What's to say you haven't discredited your loyalty to Scarlet's regime. The hypnowaves have been known to have prolonged effects," exclaimed Velma as she stood out of the chair and confronted Maxine, distraught by her distrust.

"I don't appreciate you throwing accusations at me," snapped Maxine.

"Then don't throw them at me...I know who you are, I remember you now," snapped back Velma.

"What are you talking about?"

"You were one of sanitized octolings recovered from the octo expansion incident. You're October Lima 034, that was your callsign was it not,"

"How did you know that," Maxine was now getting even more suspicious of the octoling scientist.

"I was at the statue after it's destruction. The rescue and salvage mission ordered by Scarlet to retrieve the remaining octarians that were sanitized and to scour the remnants of that phone,"

"You were there," Maxine replied, stunned to find out Velma was at the NILS statue after it was destroyed.

"Yes...I helped de-sanitize the octarians. It seemed after that phone was defeated the effects of sanitization were wearing away. We never expected this after Scarlet sent an expeditionary force to investigate the signal we retrieved in that underground metro," she explained.

Maxine got quiet, she vaguely remembered being under influence of the sanitization and it traumatized her. "Why are you bringing this up...and why would Scarlet have any interest in that monster, Tartar,"

"Tartar was an incredibly advance piece of technology left behind by the humans. A self aware, self thinking computer that we believed was housing knowledge left behind by the extinct race. Knowledge she craved and saw potential for the survival of our people," Velma attempted to try and get the sergeant to see there good intentions but it failed.

"You know also what that thing did to us. If the hypnowaves weren't bad enough it turned us into mindless servants, even our appearance was altered. I can't stand to even think about what me and the others went through," exclaimed Maxine.

"Then you know why I left. Scarlet wants to break into Tartar's hard drive and retrieve all that knowledge. Another reason why she's determined to bring the humans back," Velma admitted, though it might have been to soon if not feasible for the sergeant to know this.

Maxine was disturbed by what Velma had just informed her. "Scarlet is mad...bringing the humans back. Is she even capable of doing that?"

"The octarian research team which I was a part of tried many attempts using the cloning machines used to create octotroopers and other non-octolings but the machine isn't able to replicate a human, even using any trace of DNA we put in it but as persistent as Scarlet is. They'll find a way eventually. If Scarlet knew about Seth or this human they would storm this place and take what they needed to achieve their goals," said the octoling scientist.

"Then she has to stopped,"

"I agree...but right now, we won't be able to do that. So I've taken it upon myself to see if I can find a connection between us and the humans. This serum, created by the humans long ago I believe is the same stuff that sanitized the octarians in the metro stations under that statue," Velma told her before pulling out a metal case she came across.

"Serum? What serum?" questioned Maxine.

Velma proceeded to open the case and reveal a vial containing a greenish substance. Maxine knew right away what it was and recognized it as the same liquid that changed her and the octarians under Tartar's influence.

"That human scientist mentioned something about it in one of the videos in the database. Tartar was created by humans as well. Seems the dots are connecting sergeant," said Velma as she held the vial.

"Why would they create such a thing?"

"It has something do about their reemergence I believe. It's why those pods are down here but...something happened," she told the sergeant as she placed the vial back in the case.

"So what you're saying is the humans tried to survive their demise using Tartar and this serum?" Maxine questioned.

"Maybe... I can't be sure but it seems like it," answered Velma as she adjusted her glasses.

Just then the human on the examination bed was moaning. He moved his head and opened his eyes, but his eyes weren't normal. They were green with a flat pupil and his teeth had been replaced with a black beak, reminiscent of the octolings. It seemed that the soldier went through some sort of transformation process during their sedation and was waking up.

They let out a gargle and looked around. Confused at where they were at and why they were strapped to a bed. "Hey! What is this!" they spoke in octarian. It seemed his voice even changed, a cross between human and the language the octolings spoke. He turned his head and saw the sergeant and Velma talking amongst each other unaware the human was awake.

He tried to pull on his bindings and then gave a growl as he shook the bed. After a moment the noise caught the attention of the two and they saw the human or what was once human now awake and glaring at them. They stared at him and noticed something was very different about him.

He stared back and was in as much shock as they were with him. "What...are you?" he asked. Noticing the two appeared human but their proportions were quite different than his, like their large heads and eyes. Not to mention their "hair" which didn't look like hair at all but a cluster of tentacles as if an octopus was sitting on their head.

Velma shook her head and... understood him? She didn't before when he woke up in the examination room. He he had green octopus-like eyes and markings. His teeth were gone and replace with a beak like hers but black instead of white.

"You...just spoke my language...how?" asked a stunned Velma.

"What are talking about? You speak English, don't you?" he replied back.

"If you mean human language then no...you just spoke octarian,"

"What's going on? That other human spoke our language. Why are bewildered by this?" asked Maxine.

"Because he didn't before when he woke up. Back in that other room where I had to sedate him. Look at his eyes and his...beak?" she pointed out to the sergeant.

"Beak! Wait...is that really a human? What the shell is going on!?" the sergeant exclaimed.

"Free me! Now!" the human demanded.

"How is this even happening?" Velma asked herself.

"What did you do?" Maxine demanded that Velma explain why the human had features similar to there's.

"I didn't do anything, I swear," defended Velma.

"I said get me free now before I kick your asses!" shouted the human angrily.

"You best watch who you threaten. I don't know what's going on or what you are but if you expect us to cut you loose you gotta another thing coming," Maxine told him, showing she wasn't afraid of his idle threats.

"Chill sergeant, I think it would be better if we took a different approach at this and ask him some questions,"

"After that act of hostility...fine, you ask him then, but don't expect me to save your butt,"

Velma approached the disgruntled human as he stared at her. Displeased that he was strapped to the bed and how he got there and who the octolings were. Velma cleared her throat before she could have a discussion with the soldier. "My name's Velma and I'm sure you're wondering who I am. I'm an octoling,"

"A what?" replied the confused human.

"In your terms I guess it would be a octopus-based humanoid. We have similarities me and you and I don't know if you're well aware but...your race is extinct, well except another human that was here but he's gone with a team of octoling soldiers," Velma tried to explain to the human.

"Extinct? Octopus? Is this some kind of bad dream," he said.

"No you're awake. Don't you remember coming out of that pod hours ago?" she asked him, trying to remind the soldier.

"Huh, I don't remember anything. All I know is when I just woke up I was strapped to this damn bed and now you're telling me that humans are extinct. I find that an unlikely story and ditch the goofy wig, is this Halloween or something,"

"You don't believe me...well maybe seeing yourself in the mirror will get you thinking,"

Velma grabbed a mirror out of one the desks and faced it at the human as he saw his reflection. His eyes widened and he gave a loud gargle seeing that his physical features had altered. "W...what is this!? What did you do to me!?" he shouted brazenly, causing Velma to nearly drop the mirror.

"I didn't do anything I can assure you. It's clearly evident especially with you being able to speak my language that...you're turning into a...octoling. As crazy as that sounds but the question is how?"

"No, this can't be happening. This has to be a nightmare! I need to wake up! You're not real! None of this is!" The human was becoming ecstatic as he squirmed in the bed, trying to get loose out of his bindings. The two octolings fearing he would break free soon if he didn't calm down.

"Not to spoil things but this isn't a dream. So you might as well answer her questions of who you are and why you're turning into a...well one of us," said Maxine, trying to get him to stop his attempts of getting free.

"How am I supposed to answer a question like that? And what exactly are you supposed to be anyway and what's with the super soaker. You gonna shoot me with water if I don't comply," he scoffed.

"You better watch your mouth. I'm an octarian soldier and I'm not afraid to use force if you give the opportunity you piece of..." she started to say before being interrupted by Velma.

"Back off sergeant... you're escalating the situation," Velma told Maxine.

"Can you please explain to us why this is happening? Has it got something to do with the serum?" Velma asked him.

"Serum? What...wait a minute...I remember those scientists shooting something in my neck. The super soldier program I was abducted for..." he started remembering the events before he was placed in cryostasis.

"Super soldier program? So you were a soldier, like that other human," said Maxine.

"Can you recall anything at all?" asked Velma.

"No...I don't...and I don't need to ask anymore questions from you things. I want out of this bed and returned home. This has got to be some kind of trick by those scientists. None of this makes any sense. Humans can't be extinct, you're lying!" It was evident he didn't believe the octolings and saw this as some kind of act.

"I'm not lying. Humans have been long gone except what's left in those pods, the lives one anyway but...Seth never went through the physical anomalies you're going through but he could speak our language. This is interesting to say the least," said Velma who placed her hand on her chin.

Then the soldier shouted in pain and shook his head. A brown tentacle grew out of his head as his hair fell out, appearing even more octarian than human. "A tentacle, alright it's obvious he is turning into one of us...I'm beginning to believe you're right about the connection between us and the humans...but what does this all mean?" asked the sergeant.

"The truth will surface in time but that doesn't explain how Seth didn't undergo a phase like this. He seemed pretty human to me," said Velma.

The human was breathing heavily on the bed. He was weak and turned to the two octolings in question. "If you think I'm turning into whatever you are...then is their anyway to reverse this?" he asked them.

"I can't answer that question. I don't know how this is happening in the first place. I'm sure if that serum is causing this," Velma replied to him.

"Then...kill me. I would rather die than turn into some kind of freak. If my kind is extinct like you say they are then I would be better off,"

"Why would you want that...Seth accepted his situation, why can't you,"

"Because I won't...just do it quickly,"

"(sigh) Very well then," said Maxine as she approached him and aimed the octo shot at his head.

"Sergeant what are you doing?"

"He wanted his death wish...and I don't appreciate being referred to as a freak. I don't there's anything we can do for him and we certainly can't let him go," she told the octoling scientist.

"He maybe our missing puzzle piece between us and the humans. Don't do this," pleaded Velma, urging the sergeant to spare the human.

"What else do you expect me to do. Seems putting him out of his misery seems the most logical thing to do right now,"

"Think about what you're doing. There's no point in making any irrational decisions. Let's just think this over...right now I say we keep him around. I'll monitor him, it seems he's weakened and I don't think he'll be in the mood to pose anymore trouble,"

"I seriously hope you know what you're doing and what threat he could pose to all of us," said Maxine.

"It would be best if we reason with him while he's in a mild state of mind. He has no idea what's happening to him and why he's here. How would you fill if you were in his shoes?" she asked Maxine.

The sergeant growled and took her octo shot off of him. It seemed the human passed out and she decided to spare him like Velma wanted. "I'll leave you with this problem. I'm gonna go see if that inkhead of a specialist has returned and I'll keep this between us but know this. I'm keeping a close eye on you," said Maxine as she stormed out of the lab.

Back at Octorock quarry, Both Sam and Seth were getting stared down by the hulking octoweapon. It gave a mean look and dropped down at the two with the intent to smash them with it's blocky body. The two quickly dashed away as the octoweapon slammed against the ground. It's legs flailed and turned about until a waving tentacle popped out from a small hatch on it's back.

"Sam you ok!?" Seth yelled.

"Yeah, you?" she replied back.

"Still here...what on earth is this thing!" he exclaimed as he got up and turned to the octostomp.

"An octoweapon! My sister fought them when she was a squidbeak agent!"

"Octoweapon?"

The octostomp's tentacle got sucked back in it's body and it bounced back up on it's feet and gargled. "I don't think we have the firepower to take on this thing, any suggestions?" asked Seth.

"Yeah, one...RUN FOR IT!" yelled Sam as she squidformed and swam away.

Seth quickly got up and tailed Sam, following her advice seeing the giant menacing octoweapon get back up. Seth didn't think the hulking octoweapon would be easy to take down but running away was not a solution. There had to be a weakness on it somewhere. As Sam made her way toward the exit the octostomp gave a roar and then a large metal barrier shot up from the ground and covered the exit. "Oh shrimp! We're trapped!" exclaimed Sam.

The octostomp closed in on them, in another attempt to smash down on them but the two dispersed. Sam then thought about the tentacle as she got out of the octostomp's gaze. There was a tentacle that emerged from the mouth of the octomaw when it was damaged. When she struck it with one of the ink bolts back at the town when the octolings were battling it, the octarian machine exploded.

"Seth!" she shouted.

"Yeah! What is it!" he shouted back.

"That tentacle we saw come out of that octoweapon when it faceplanted. I think that's it weak spot!"

"You think so?"

"Yeah I'm pretty sure of it,"

The two of them met up at the far side of the arena and saw the octostomp coming toward them. "I hope you've come up with a plan," said Seth.

"Well of course," as the octostomp was getting closer.

The two of them waited for the hulking octoweapon to attack before running out of the way of it's body slamming into the ground. The tentacle appeared and flailed out of the opening in it's back. Sam shot an ink bolt on the side of it, taking this chance to swim up the octostomp and strike the tentacle with another ink bolt. The tentacle dove back down and gushed octarian ink before Sam flew off and landed back down before the octostomp got back on it's feet again.

"It's not down!" shouted Seth seeing the octostomp was still operational. "It's going to take more than just one hit," she replied back to him.

"Mirage mentioned the fight they had with a giant metal guppy before. Let's go for it. I'll distract it, you focus on hitting that tentacle," he suggested.

"Don't get crushed!"

"I won't,"

Seth rushed around the side of te octostomp and shot at it with his rifle. The bullets wouldn't penetrate it's body but it did get it's attention. The octostomp turned towards Seth and stepped toward him with a glare. "Shit, I think I just pissed it off," he said as the octoweapon gargled. Seth ran back as the octoweapon was in pursuit. Seth was able to out pace it but the octostomp could still get around the enclosed arena and using it's size to keep a steady stride on the human until he was cornered.

Sam saw Seth was in trouble and sprang into action. She shot an ink bolt in the octostomp's path causing to slip in the ink and flip back. It gargled as Seth stopped for only the hulking creature to get back up again. Seth had to take a different approach and lure the creature into trying to smash him without getting smashed himself. "Hey ugly! Come and get me!" Seth shouted at it. taunting the octoweapon to try and chase him.

The gear on Seth was causing him to lag down and tucker out from getting any distance between him and the octostomp. He turned and shot at it again in the face but made no effort into stunning it and it fell down over toward Seth but he managed to narrowly evade from getting flattened by it. Sam took the opportunity and rushed up to get on top of the octoweapon and shot at it's exposed tentacle. It burst into ink and she zipped off before the metal monster got back up again.

"Dammit it's still got some fight left in it," jeered Seth.

The octostomp was getting wise to the two's tactics. It turned toward the inkling seeing her as a greater threat than the human and scurried toward her. "Sam look out! It's gunning for you now," warned Seth.

"I can see that!" she yelled, running away from the persistent octoweapon.

She squid formed and swam out of it's path. Seth had to act so he pulled out a flashbang and held it in his hand. Maybe blinding the octoweapon would catch it off guard. He ran toward it and Sam and as soon as she got far enough out he lobbed the flashbang in front of the octostomp's path.

The grenade created a big flash of light, blinding the octoweapon as it stumbled back and gargled. Confused and unable to see. The octoweapon smacked into the mine wall causing a large rock to hit it in the head. Dazed now, it fell over exposing the tentacle for the third time. "Shoot it before it gets up!" shouted Seth.

Sam rushed toward the downed octostomp and blasted the tentacle. This time the tentacle burst into ink for good as the octoweapon shook and sparked. "Uh oh," said Sam as she squid jumped to safety. It's legs spun and it's body swelled before it finally exploded with nothing left but flying metal debris, a big pool of ink and the zapfish that was powering it.

Seth was sitting on the ground from getting knocked back from the explosion and was partially covered with ink as he wiped his face and spit some of it out of his mouth. "That went easier than expected," he said.

Sam headed over to the pool and grabbed the zapfish before it swam away. It sparked it's whiskers and she placed it inside her backpack. "Another zapfish to take back to Inkopolis. To think my sister had to face those things. I would've never thought Izzy would ever fight something like this," she said to herself.

She walked over to Seth to check up on him. "That was quick thinking, what was that?" she asked him.

"A flashbang, grabbed one before we left the facility. It explodes with a very bright flash to incapacitate anyone that's around it. Thought it might've come in handy," he said as he got up.

"Human weapons are so cool...don't think they would allow something like that in a turf war match though. I'm sure glad we beat that big palooka and got the zapfish back," the inkling told him.

"So where's the kettle. I didn't see one," said Seth.

"I didn't neither...there's gotta be one here somewhere," she replied.

The two of them looked up and heard what sounded like rotors overhead. They spotted something hovering over the chasm as it dropped down. "What is that?" asked Seth. "Whatever it is doesn't look good," Sam replied.

A couple of spotlights aimed down at the two. It was an octoseeker. The hatch on the back opened and four octopi shot down below from it. Three regulars and an elite aimed their octoshots on the pair. "Drop your weapons or get splatted!" demanded the black-headed octoling. Sam and Seth looked at each other and then they noticed along the chasm walls on the balconies and walkways were more octolings aiming their weapons down on them. "You have three seconds to comply!" the elite commanded.

"What do we now?" whispered Sam.

"I hate to say this but we got no choice. We're outnumbered and they got us over a barrel. There's no getting out of this,"

"Quit talking! Drop your weapons or I'll command my forces to splat your butts into a puddle," the elite demanded.

"Don't...we surrender," Seth told her as he laid the rifle on the ground and kneeled down.

"What?" Sam responded, seeing Seth give up so easily.

"Sam just go along...there's nothing we can do,"

Sam threw her ink bow down before one the octolings smacked her in the back of the head with their octoshot. As she laid on the ground they yanked the backpack off of her and grabbed the zapfish out of it. "Stealing octarian property huh," said the elite.

"What do mean your property, that zapfish belongs to the inklings...you're the ones that stole it!" she shouted.

"Shut your beak inkstain!" growled the elite. She turned to Seth who was down on his knees and his hands behind his head. "What are supposed to be. You aren't an inkling or octoling for that matter...explain before I decide to shoot you," she asked as she looked at him.

"If you have to know I'm a human," he answered.

The octolings gasped and looked at each other. The elite shook her head and was at disbelief. "A... human. Yeah right...humans are extinct. Nothing but fossils now...you expect me to believe that crap," the elite scoffed.

"What else would I be,"

She examined him and saw he had no tentacles, no eye marks, no beak and he was tall for any cephalopod based lifeform. She looked down at his weapon which he placed on the ground. She picked it up and studied it. It wasn't any kind of ink weapon she had ever seen. "I'd be careful with that if I were you," Seth warned her.

"I know what I'm doing," she snapped back.

"Just don't want you shooting your mouth off,"

"Keep trying me and see that you don't deserve a good punch in the throat,"

"Do your worst,"

"Ha, as you wish," said sneered. The elite walked over and punched Seth right in throat. He flinched and coughed from the hit. "Seth! You octo winch!" shouted Sam angrily as she was pinned down to the ground by the octoling's boot.

"You know what...I think I believe you. Since you are a human as you say you are...how did you survive this whole time then. How can speak my language?" the elite asked.

Seth just shot her a glare as he cuffed his throat. He wouldn't have been able to talk without his throat hurting from the punch. "oh...right, well you asked for it. Maybe a trip back to octo base will give you time to talk and start answering questions,"

The elite then looked at Sam. "As for the squid. I'm not sure if I have any use for her. I may take her back too but then again why not just splat her right here," said the elite as she aimed her octoshot at Sam's head.

"Stop! (gasp) Just let her go, I know how valuable I am to your leader," Seth told her with a hoarse voice.

The elite turned and looked at Seth raising her eyebrow. "What do you know about the general,"

"Enough to know she's interested in bringing the humans back from extinction, something about controlling them too to invade the surface," his voice clearing up.

"I don't know how you got that information or who you've talked to but I'm betting you also know where a certain scientist is that escaped octo base. I bet she's the one that gave you this intel,"

Seth held his tongue and the elite could read him, knowing that was the case. "You know what we're gonna play a little game. You give me the whereabouts of her location and I don't turn this squid into an ink splatter on the ground," she growled still holding the octoshot right on top of Sam's head.

"Seth don't tell them anything," said Sam.

"Shut up squid...I'm waiting,"

"How can I trust you, I give you the information and you decide to shoot her anyway,"

"I'll just shoot her if you don't give me the information. Now are you gonna talk or watch this inkstain become a real ink stain. You got 3 seconds,"

"1..." the elite started off.

Seth had to think of something fast.

"2..."

He had to come up with a scheme and then he thought about the last flashbang he had.

"3..."

The elite slowly pulled the trigger as Sam clinched her eyes as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Hold it! You sure you wanna do that?"

"You gonna talk?"

"How about we make another deal instead," Seth said. He quickly grabbed a regular and put her in a headlock with one arm and held out the flashbang in the other. The octolings aimed their octoshots at him seeing him grab one of their teammates. "Let her go... or I kill us all," he told them.

"You threaten us...with what?" scoffed the elite, not taking Seth seriously.

"In my hand is a grenade, equlivent to one your ink bombs but far more deadlier. A human weapon that'll splatter us all over the damn place and I don't think you want that...so I suggest you do as I ask," Seth threatened them still having a hold of the octoling.

"You're bluffing, you don't have the gall to do such a thing. You're not crazy enough to kill yourself let alone kill your inkling partner as well," said the elite.

"You wanna try me?"

"Seth what are you doing, don't," Sam replied.

"Let her go or else...just know that I'm the last living human, something of far more value than that inkling to you. What if your leader ever found out you encountered a living human to only end up getting him killed. You and your octopus posse might survive but I won't. I really have nothing left to live for in this world and I'm desperate enough to join the rest of my race. So go ahead. Test me," he told them as he started to pull the pin.

The octolings were nervous and started to back up away from him. "Are you seriously scared of this human. He's not gonna do it," she said.

Just after she said that the pin was pulled completely out. He dropped it right in the middle of them and the octolings scrambled to get away. The flashbang put out a large burst of light that disoriented the elite and the regular octoling he had a hold of and tossed her toward the octoling that was standing on Sam.

While they dispersed and the elite was blinded. Seth punched her, knocking the elite to the ground and helping Sam up. "I told them I wasn't bluffing,"

Sam quickly grabbed up the zapfish as she rushed away with Seth before the octolings could recover.

"Seth you're a genius,"

"We're not out of the woods yet we still gotta get out of here before they figure out what happened,"

Sam and Seth spotted what appeared to be an elevator at the other side of the chasm and ran toward it. They hopped on but the power wasn't supplying it as Seth was mashing buttons. "Nothing's working," he jeered.

"Wait a minute," Sam said as she placed the zapfish over the console. It's whiskers sparked and the console was getting power. Seth pressed the button and the elevator went up. The elite finally got her sight back and looked around as her unit gathered back up. "Where'd they go!" she screamed.

"Up there!" pointed one of the regulars, seeing the two ride the elevator up.

"After them! Don't let them escape you inkheads!" shouted the elite.

The octolings scrambled and the elite hopped back on the octoseeker before it ascended up the chasm to pursue the human and inkling girl. The two watched the octolings in their octopus forms scurry up the pathway they took to go down and even took pop shots at them as they went up. "Can this thing go any faster?" bickered Sam.

"It's only got one speed. We'll make a break for it once we get up top,"

The octoseeker was now hovering beside them. The twintacle pilot giving them a malicious glare before the small top hatch opened with the elite coming out aiming her octoshot at the pair. "Give it up, escape is futile!" she sneered, shaking her fist.

"That's what you think!" Seth shouted as he pulled out his sidearm and began firing. She octo formed and dodged a couple of the first few rounds but when she changed back she was struck in the shoulder and fell over, almost falling off the octoseeker.

"That...fossil gonna get what's coming to him. I don't care if he's covered in bruises when I deliver him to Scarlet," she jeered as she held her shoulder. She sat up and shot at the elevator, hitting the console, causing it to stop. They were just 8 feet from the top ledge.

Sam squid formed and hopped up. Reaching her arm out to grab Seth and pull him up. Once they were up they bolted to the quarry exit but were about to be met up with the octoling unit that was coming up the pathway. "Go, go, go!" shouted Seth. He spotted a mine cart full of sardinium ore and shoved it, causing it to roll down the ramp walkway and cause the octolings to panic and scramble out of the way. A few were run over or knocked aside by the runaway mine cart. A few others recollected themselves and headed upward, shooting at Seth and Sam.

"Keep going, don't stop!" he yelled at Sam. As he fled and tried to catch up with the inkling. The elite jumped down in her octopus form off the octoseeker and landed right on top of Seth, knocking him into the ground. She grabbed him and turned him over before bashing him with the octoshot, busting his nose.

Before she could hit him again he grabbed it and tried to wrestle it from her. Sam looked back and saw he was pinned by the elite octoling and rushed to his rescue. Just as he thought he was about to lose the fight Sam kicked the octoling off of him. "How about you fight me instead octo winch," Sam told the elite.

"Pathetic little inkstain...I'll deal with you once and for all," she growled, getting back up.

The two got into a scrap as Seth was dazed and rubbed his face from getting hit by the elite's weapon. He tried to get up but was too weak to try and aid Sam. He watched the cephalopods trade punches and even dodge each others attacks but it was clear that Sam was running out of steam. The elite had the upper hand and saw Sam was vulnerable and launched an uppercut that knocked her down to the ground in front of Seth's body.

She approached the inkling and squatted down beside her. "Seems I'm the victor squid...too bad, I was looking forward to bringing you back to octo base and watching you get assimilated by the hypno goggles. You look somewhat familiar but I can't place my tentacle on it. Maybe it's that other yellow-headed squid we brought in days ago...maybe you're related to her. Doesn't matter anyway because you won't be around much longer to find out,"

Seth tried to crawl away as he reached for his sidearm. He caught the elite's eye as she stood up and walked over. He quickly unholstered the pistol but she stomped on his arm as he yelped and clutched the pistol in his hand. She grabbed it and tossed the pistol aside. "Nice try human...I'm impressed how stubborn you are. You'll certainly make a great addition to our army, well Scarlet's army once we invade the surface,"

"You can...forget it. I'm not doing a damn thing for you or your leader,"

"I disagree, you'll have no choice once you're under the influence of the hypnowaves when we place the goggles on you,"

"Go screw yourself,"

"Still persistent after defeat...I like that," she said with a grin. The regulars approached them. "Get him onboard the octoseeker. We're heading back to base ASAP," she commanded the octolings.

The octolings grabbed a hold Seth by his arms and dragged him to the octoseeker. Sam rolled over and saw that he was about to be abducted by the octarians and taken back to their base. She tried to get up but was far too weak from the fight she had with the elite. She held her arm out and called Seth's name as she crawled her way toward them but it was too late. The elite forgot to deal with the inkling girl, focused on transporting Seth back to octo base and give Scarlet the good news. As the octoseeker ascended, she watched in horror, fearing what they would do to him. She continued seeing the aircraft get further and further away until it flew off and out of sight.

"Seth...I'm sorry...I..." she weakly said as she burst into tears and covered her eyes. Full of guilt for letting the human get captured and failing him and failing to find her sister. She laid there and moped under the night projected sky, unsure what to do next but locate Mirage and her team and tell them what had happened if she could find the courage to do so.

Speaking of Mirage and her team. They entered into the workers' village an hour ago but broke off into pairs to cover more ground in an attempt to locate Maxine's group if they were still around. Luna and Star had just dealt with a small squad of octotroopers and discovered a broken ink tank and deceased inkling girl that was probably a prisoner with the defected octoling unit.

They shot out of an opening in the ceiling in the abandoned building and ventured back to the street where they were at. They continued their search of any survivors and were nearing the square from the opposite side of where Mirage and Vee were at. "Wonder how the lieutenant and the private are doing?" asked Star.

"Hope they're having as much fun as we have...I'm getting tired," said Luna.

As they continued to walk they stopped. The two spotted a light scanning around the street ahead of them. They both got behind a truck parked in the street and watched. Luna and Star spotted multiple troopers guarding a barricaded gate up the street going into the factory and up top was the octocommander using it's spot light to look around below. "Look's like a checkpoint ahead...I like a challenge," said Luna grasping her octo shot.

"Hold on Luna, let's not get so hasty. We don't wanna set off the whole entire dome do you?" said Star as she held Luna's shoulder.

Just then, the two heard humming coming from around the corner and the sound of a propeller. Star and Luna looked around for the source of the noise but then the sergeant spotted the commissary just to the left of them. "Quick, we better get out of sight before we're spotted," as she dragged Luna into the building. Just as they rushed in an octotrooper scurried down the street looking around as well an octocopter. They looked at each other and shrugged before carrying out their patrols.

Luna and Star hid and waited for the octarians to leave. The two turned around and saw the commissary was trashed. It was a lot like Mako mart back in Inkopolis but with posters and advertising with octarians featured on them. Buggys were scattered around and knocked over. Much of the shelves were barren and the air was thick with dust.

"I would say this place has been abandoned for a while," said Luna.

"Well if you remember Luna, when we had those power outages two years ago, some of the domes had to be evacuated and the remaining power had to be rerouted to Octopolis and octo base. Everyone had to leave their jobs and homes because of it," she reminded the elite.

"Yeah I remember... didn't seem that long ago though. Rationing power, the rioting. I remember being placed on detail to quell the protests," said Luna.

"You couldn't blame them. No one could get food or their money out of the bank," said Star.

"Well I had to follow orders. Yeah I felt bad but... we had to keep control of the situation. Being in the army you should know that Luna. I hated it for them but rioting wasn't going to solve their problems,"

They stopped and looked around as they entered the shopping area. Much of the aisles were blocked off by debris or toppled shelves. The two of them spotted one aisle that seemed accessible and octoformed down it to the other end of the shopping area. Luna's stomach growled and the two stopped, changing back to their bipedal forms. "What is it Luna?" asked Star.

"I'm getting hungry...and Seth had all the food! Those delicious rations we ate back at that warehouse! Gah...he had to go with that squid, he could have least spared us some of that stuff," said a disgruntled Luna. "Surely, there's some food left in this dump,"

Then Star's stomach growled. "I'm like you... maybe we oughta look around. Maybe there's still some stock in the back. We could go see," she suggested.

The two headed through two double doors going into the commissary's warehouse. They entered a large room that was filled with empty crates and shelves with no signs of food. They decided to venture more and head down a hallway toward their left. They continued to search until they came across a large storeroom up head, at the far end of the hall. "I still don't see anything," griped Luna.

Then Star spotted a body at the far corner of room sitting against the wall. "Luna, look!" she pointed. The two ran over to inspect the body. It was an octoling.

"Could she have been with Maxine's unit?" asked Star.

"I'm not sure, possibly," answered Luna, looking at the octoling's body.

They spotted her octo shot laying on the floor, completely depleted of ink. "She must have gotten cornered down here, by her injuries she was either beaten or pelted to death. bastards," said Luna.

"Maybe there's others...still alive," said a hopeful Star.

"Maybe...let me get a hold of Mirage," said Luna. She tapped the button on her goggles that turned on her headset. "This is Luna over, do you copy Mirage," she called out but got nothing but static.

"Come in Mirage..." she tried but still no response. "Something's jamming the frequency...I can't get a hold of them,"

"What now?"

"Scarlet's forces are probably utilizing some kind of jamming device. I bet they used it to ensure that Maxine's people couldn't radio out to each other after they got ambushed. We're on our own until we link up with Mirage and Vee,"

"This isn't good...what if we get spotted or if Mirage and Vee get caught?" panicked Star.

"I don't know sergeant, so get a hold of yourself. There's nothing else we can do but stay out of sight and see if we can find any survivors, if they're not dead that is,"

The two left the room and took another path. A hallway leading further to the back of the commissary which ran into the power room housing the generator that supplied the building with electricity. Luna and Star continued and entered what looked like a break room. Luna rushed toward a fridge that was sitting in the room while Star searched the cabinets. "Hey I found a box of cereal," said Star.

"Huh, cereal? Let me see," said Luna as she ran over and swiped the box out of Star's hand.

"Hey, you better share," protested the sergeant.

As Luna tipped the box over nothing but crumbs fell out. Annoyed she chunked the box to the floor as her stomach growled again. "Cod, why can't we find any food!" she exclaimed in irritation.

"Geez, Luna calm down,"

The elite decided to sit down, propping her head with her arms. An expression of defeat on her face as she stared at the walls. Star grabbed a chair and sat beside her. "This was such a stupid idea...let's face it, Maxine's unit as well as any inklings are probably dead. Now I'm starving here having to hide from those dumb tentacles," grumbled the lieutenant.

"Don't be so negative. When I start getting like that I think about other topics like...music, the inkling fashion or...boys..." said Star.

"Good grief...at a time like this. My stomach would be in a better mood to start a conversation like I don't know...finding food!"

"What about Seth?"

"What about him?" as Luna perked up a little.

"Mirage was pretty angry with him to stay back with that inkling chick,"

"Yeah she was...I never seen her like that. Getting her tentacles in a wad... was kinda funny if you ask me,"

"So I guess he's not a part of the team anymore. I hate that for him,"

"Yeah me too...still, doesn't mean I won't stop messing with him though,"

"You know Mirage won't tolerate it,"

"Why should she care, she kicked him off the squad...and you like him too,"

"I like him as a friend...you just wanna get into his pants,"

"Just one time...that's all I ask. Would it hurt for me to get some di..." Luna was interrupted by the sound of the commissary doors opening and buggies getting knocked into.

"Shuuush...I thought I heard something. Sounded like someone came inside the store," said Star, startled by the noise.

"Yeah I hear it too, I say we go investigate," replied Luna as she got out of the chair and grabbed her octoshot.

The two octolings left the break room and headed down the employee access hall to a locked door. Luna turned the deadbolt as they could hear someone moving around inside the shopping area. She looked at her partner as they nodded at each other. The elite slowly turned the knob and peeked through the doorway, aiming her octo shot outside it. The two scanned the area with their weapons up but saw nobody around.

"I...could of sworn I heard someone," said Star as she lowered the octo shot.

"I did too...but now it's quiet, stay alert. Scan the area for hostiles," said Luna.

The two stepped out and traversed toward the back side of the shopping area where they haven't been. They were cautious and stayed vigilant. Someone or something else was in the commissary with them, whether it was friendly or not. The walkway made a 90 degree in the corner of the shopping area and the two jumped the corner and aimed their octo shots down the wide walkway.

"Looks clear," said Luna before the two of them continued patrolling. Star spotted to her left that items and cans got knocked off the shelf and spilled on the floor, leaving a mess. "Clean up on aisle 3," said Luna.

"Someone came through here in a hurry," said Star.

"Just keep your eyes peeled," said the elite as they slipped their goggles over their eyes.

On their right appeared to be a small pharmacy, inside the two could see a dead octoling laying on the counter. Her arm was wrapped from dressing her wounds, unable to assess herself in time to stop the bleeding. On the floor further inside the store was a male inkling with blue tentacles tied in a pony tail. He was also deceased like the octoling from life threatening injuries.

"This isn't looking good," said Star.

"Nope...I doubt anyone made it," commented Luna.

The sound of something falling over caught the two's attention. "Now I definitely heard that and it was close, stay sharp," Luna told Star.

The two left the pharmacy and approached the dining area with their weapons pointed ahead of them. "Be ready to shoot," Luna muttered.

They stopped and looked around. "This is where it sounded like it came from," whispered Star.

"Move slowly and watch your sector," said Luna.

The two octolings carefully entered the store diner. It was cluttered with cafe tables and a jukebox was nestled against the wall. Toward the corner of the diner was the kitchen area, blocked by a counter top with fountain drink dispensers resting on top, making it an ideal place for a hiding spot.

A figure peaked around the corner of counter, under the cash register and watch the octolings. Star turned her attention toward the kitchen and caught the glimpse of an eye watching her before the figure quickly hid back behind the counter. "Huh, Lieutenant there's someone back there," said Star, pointing toward the register.

"Come out! Or we'll come back there and splat the living ink out of you!" Luna commanded holding the weapon towards the counter.

A pair of hands appeared as the figure raised up. The two octolings looked at each other as they lowered their octoshots. It was a young octoling, a female that just turned of age. "Please don't splat me," she said in a nervous tone.

"Don't worry, we won't. Who are you?" asked Luna as she pulled her goggles up.

The young octoling cautiously stepped from behind the counter and looked at the two as she lowered her arms. She was wearing an oversized dirty and tathered shirt with a red octopus on it that went down to her knees. (A cartoonish style of the octoling's octopus form). She was bare footed and clearly had not taken a bath in quite some time. Her tentacles were large for her age and a pinkish-red color.

"M...my name's...(gulp) Emma." she answered.

"Emma, that's a nice name but what are you doing here? You seem pretty young to be by yourself," said Star.

"I ran in here when I saw the troopers coming down the street. You're not with those meanies in the factory are you?" she asked them.

"Meanies? You must mean the octarian army. (chuckle) No...my name's sergeant Star and this is lieutenant Luna," said Star as Luna rolled her eyes.

"C'mon Star. Quit talking to the pipsqueak and let's go,"

"What...Luna we can't just leave her here,"

"You expect to take her with us, knowing we could run into anymore of those stupid troopers. You heard what she said, she's been fending for herself this whole, she'll be fine," said Luna as Emma started to pout, hurt by the lieutenant's remarks.

"Don't cry Emma, she didn't mean any of that," said Star as she comforted the young octoling. The sergeant turned to the elite with a disapproved expression. "Luna, apologize,"

"You serious," she replied to Star.

"Ever since everyone evacuated the dome. I was left behind, my parents went missing when all the craziness happened here. I've been here since, having to hunt for food. I collected a bunch overtime back at my parent's apartment but every now and then I come out and go exploring to pass the time. Ever since those octarians came back I was thinking I would see my parents again but they were mean. They called me a runt and tried to take me back to a place called octo base but I managed to get away and I've avoided them since," she explained as she wiped her eye.

"We'll make sure that never happens, how despicable that those octojerks would try and brainwash you like that. Me and Luna will make sure you get back home safely. Isn't that right Luna," said Star as she elbowed the elite.

"Yeah, heartbreaking...(sigh),"

"Thank you so much. I got plenty of food at my home if you're hungry,"

"Food? Now you're speakin' my language kid. Lead the way,"

Luna and Star peeked out of the main entrance of the commissary, seeing no troopers roaming around the area and decided now was the time to leave. Emma lead Star and Luna toward the apartment she had been staying at in there octopus forms to avoid detection. Navigating down empty but littered streets to the neighborhood where the apartment complex was and finally hopping out of one of the drain basins and back on the street.

Emma headed over toward her apartment with Star and Luna behind her. She stepped through the door and the three of them headed up to the highest floor and entered into Emma's home. The three of them walked up a staircase that was littered with trash and as filthy as the commissary. "I can't believe she's living out here in these conditions," said Star.

Luna stepped on a dirty newspaper, on it was a head line that was talking about the octoweapons factory protests from 2 years when the plant had to shut down and residents had to evacuate the dome. Luna dropped and the two octolings stayed behind Emm until they reached the floor Emma stayed on. The finally made as Emma opened the door. Inside it was small but enough to accommodate the little young octoling. "Make yourselves at home," she told the two.

"So this is where you stay at," said Luna. She and Star looked and saw dirty furniture filling part of the room. A broken TV set sat on a table. The sofa had a blanket covering it with a pillow, apparently Emma's bed. In the back was the kitchen where Emma just walked into. Luna pulled up a seat as Star decided to keep standing, feeling bad for poor Emma, living alone without any power except a small lantern laying on the coffee table.

"So, now that we got Emma back home, what about the mission Luna? What about Mirage and Vee?" asked Star.

"The comms are down, what do you expect us to do? Go outside and call out their names and while we're at it attract every tentacle and octoling to our positions. Besides it wouldn't hurt to stick around with the munchkin. Can't think on an empty stomach,"

"You mean think with an empty stomach,"

Emma came back into the living room and thanked the two for escorting her home. She didn't intend to stay out that late and couldn't find her way back as dark as it got. "You're welcome," said Star.

"Sure, so where's the food rugrat," said Luna bluntly.

"Luna, don't be so rude,"

"It's in the kitchen. There's plenty," said the little octoling girl as she waved the two to follow her to the kitchen.

Luna hopped off the chair and kept behind Emma, eager to reach the food as Star followed, shaking her head. As soon as the two walked into the kitchen. Luna and Star stared, dropping their octoshots with glitter in there eyes. They were shocked at how much food Emma accumulated over time. Stacks upon stacks of canned goods, snacks and other edibles Emma came across. "It's beautiful," said Luna.

"Emma how did you collect so much food?"

"It wasn't easy but over time I just collected what food I could find and brought it back here. Though I don't eat much so dig in,"

"Don't mind if I do," said Luna as she rubbed her hands together and jumped into the pile of snacks. She started chowing down on what she grabbed first. Star was skeptical of Luna's gluttonous behavior but none the less that was Luna being Luna. If it wasn't food, it was bragging about her skills, if it wasn't that then it was guys, especially since Seth came into the picture. Star eventually started eating and then Emma before Luna got piggish.

"Guess we'll camp here for the night...what do you think lieutenant?" asked Star who was sitting at the table. She looked over and saw that Luna was passed out on the floor, snoring. She gave a sigh of annoyance and turned to Emma. "You don't mind do you?" Star asked the little octoling.

"Of course not, you're my new friends," said Emma.

"You're so cute. I hate to leave you out here by yourself. Maybe once we're done with our mission we can take you back to our base,"

"You guys won't stay,"

"We can't Emma. We gotta find our squad mates. Sorry,"

Emma was a little disappointed and Star was feeling bad. Her and Luna couldn't stick around but she didn't wanna leave Emma by herself. The little octoling got up and laid on the couch, grabbing her stuffed octoball doll and covering herself with the blanket. Star was conflicted, she thought about talking with Luna about taking Emma back with them and decided to take a snooze herself as her eyes got heavier and she soon drifted to sleep, laying her head down on the dining table. Worried about her commander and Vee. With the comms down and the enemy roaming the town, there was not much else the two octolings could do at this point.

Back at the pharmacy store, Mirage and Vee slipped outside and saw the troopers had vanished. "Seems the coast is clear, where should we go now?" Vee asked her leader.

"Right now we need to find away around that checkpoint. Keep your eyes peeled for anymore octarians. Now they know we're here. They're going to be on high alert and beef up their defenses I'm sure," said the elite.

It became foggy making visibility limited for the lieutenant and her private. The two walked back up the street but caught movement ahead along with what looked like lights. They saw octolings scanning the streets and looking through buildings hunting for them along with a Flooder pushing up behind them. The Flooder looked like some kind of tall disc shaped platform on wheels, intended to coat the area under it with ink.

The ground vibrated from the treading of the tall octarian vehicle as the octolings were getting closer toward there position and the two of them had to do something before they were spotted. "Quick go back," commanded Mirage, just as they sprinting back toward the store, on their left down another street were more octolings and troopers coming up searching the area. "Carp, we can't get boxed in. I saw an alley just up the street on my left. We'll slip down there until they vacate the area," suggested the elite.

The two of them octo formed as to avoid detection. The elite and Vee swam through a gate and travelled down the alleyway getting off the street before they were spotted by the enemy unit.

Mirage was peeking around the corner, watching the octolings patrolling the street. "Keep searching! Those defectors have to be here somewhere!" commanded an elite on top of the Flooder.

As they were moving away, passing up the alleyway where she and Vee had crept. The elite turned around and saw the alley had dead ended, leading only to a large drain grate sticking out of the ground. "Looks like they're gone, but I still say it's not safe to go back out," said Mirage as she slid her goggles up.

"What do we do then lieutenant. We can't stay here," said Vee.

"I concur, seems the only option we got is jumping down this drain," said Mirage as she looked inside it.

"Where do you think it goes?"

"Not sure...only one way to find out,"

Mirage octoformed and hopped in, followed by Vee. The two of them took their chances in tracing the pipe to see where it went. It was dark and the only the sound that could was water dripping. The two of them changed back and spotted a light emitting from up ahead in the dark pipe.

The source of the light was coming from a grate. On the other side was a metal lined room. The octolings jumped down seeing the room was empty. "Where are we?" asked Vee.

"I wild guess, I'd say where in the factory," Mirage answered.

"What makes you say that?"

The elite pointed to a safety poster with a trooper wearing a hard hat. Below it read factory guidelines and rules pertaining to operations on the floor and protective equipment. "That makes sense," said Vee seeing the poster.

Mirage hugged the wall and looked down the pipe-lined corridor on the opposite side of the room. It was clear but the two wouldn't let their guard down. They would be heading into the belly of the beast unsure what they could be up against and with just the two of them, unable to get a call out to Luna and Star, they were own their own.

As Mirage and Vee made it toward the far end of the corridor, they heard something, a humming getting louder and then a trooper scurried by. Mirage pulled out her knife and twirled it. The trooper stopped and saw Mirage and Vee kneeling down but before it could alert the factory. Mirage chunked the knife at it and stabbed it right above the eyes as it fell off the platform. She grabbed her knife out of the puddle and placed it back in it's sheath.

"Good aim lieutenant," commented the private.

"We can't alert the factory and let them know we made it inside. The less attention the better. now let's keep moving," said Mirage.

Down another empty hallway, they stumbled into another large room. On the other side was a staircase going up to a higher floor. They walked up it and approached a door. Mirage turned the knob and peeked through. In front of her was a octoling facing away, overlooking the bottom floor from a circular balcony. Down below was an inspection area for ink weapons. This was were octo shots and other octarian weaponry was constructed. In the middle of the room was the assembly line and across from that were two double doors and a storage area as well as the inspector's office for the weapons. A few more octolings were guarding the area below as well as a few troopers and a twintacle.

"There's no getting past these octopi. We'll have no choice but to face them. Private I hope you know how to use that octo shot," she told Vee.

"I'm ready whenever you are,"

Mirage slowly opened the door and snuck behind the octoling overlooking the room below, stabbing her in the back and throwing her over the railing before she pulled out her octo shot and started blasting away at the startled octarians below. Vee came up behind her and started shooting away as well. The enemy octolings took cover and the troopers sprang into action. They were the first to go and one octoling pulled out a splat bomb and tried to lob it at Mirage and Vee but was shot in the face, causing the bomb to detonate where she was at, splatting her.

"Splat them you idiots!" ordered another octoling. Another octoling regular rushed up to the stairs spraying ink at Mirage's and Vee's position but Vee shot her and she tumbled down the stairs and splattered at the bottom.

It was down to two octolings and the twintacle. As one of the octolings stepped out of cover to shoot at Mirage and Vee. She was struck and fell back before splatting on the floor. The other octoling growled and knew she was no match for the two. She octoformed and swam through the exit leaving the twintacle behind as it hid behind a large window, looking into the assembly area. Mirage and Vee hurried down the steps to the lower floor and the twintacle lobbed a splat bomb at them from where it was at.

Mirage grabbed Vee and the two dove to the floor as to not get hit by the ink blast. They stood up and Mirage watched it lob another bomb but this time she used her octo shot as a bat and flung it back to the twintacle, killing it by it's own bomb.

"So much for being subtle," said Mirage. The two of them looked around and saw multiple octoweapons laying in crates and being assembled on the conveyor belt. "Looks like they're restocking their arsenal before the invasion," said Mirage as she picked up one of the octoshots. Vee meanwhile walked into the inspector's office. Inside was a desk with a terminal on it and in the corner of the room was a large cage with supplies inside it. The door was locked and Vee could spot a vault in the back.

"Mirage, come look at this," shouted Vee.

"What is it?" Mirage heading into the office where Vee was at.

"They gotta be keeping this locked for a reason,"

Mirage used her weapon to try and smash the lock open and eventually succeeded. Fortunate for them a container full of splat bombs was laying on the floor for them to utilize. The vault was not closed all the way and inside was an ink weapon the octarians would try to duplicate. It was a splattershot pro.

"What kind of weapon is that," Vee asked as Mirage picked it up.

"I think it's an inkling weapon. I never seen anything like this when I was in the army. The octarians must've been trying to reverse engineer it and replace their current octo shots with it," Mirage replied.

"Can you use it?"

"I'd have to set my ink tank to it but I'm not sure what it could do. I assume it's a better weapon than the octo shot. We might as well take it,"

They left the inspector's office and Mirage kicked the double doors open. As the two stepped in a device placed on the floor sprang out a splash wall. Mirage jumped back before she got coated and decided to set her ink to fill the splattershot pro she took and tried it out on knocking over the splash wall. A hit to the device disabled it and their route was passable. "Wow, this is more powerful than the octo shot," said Mirage.

They stepped ahead and entered what appeared to be a locker room area for the factory workers. On their left was a stairwell. A vending machine was sitting in the corner of the room and straight ahead was a locker lined corridor. The two continued on down the trashed hallway but it intersected. To the left was another hall and to the right was a pair of metal doors.

As they looked down the hall they spotted an octoling walk by as Mirage and Vee quickly got beside the doorway so they couldn't be spotted. The octoling looked and shrugged, not seeing the pair and continued on into a separate room.

"We better take the doors. I would rather not deal with anymore of those inkheads," said the elite.

Mirage and Vee slowly opened one of the metal doors and looked inside. It appeared to be a processessing area where the sardinium was extracted to construct the material for the octarian weapons. As they stepped in they saw an octoling approach down a walkway and the pair got behind a large crate before they were seen.

"Shrimp! No matter which way we take, we gotta face these bags of ink," griped Mirage as she pinched the top of her nose. "Those splat bombs we found are gonna come in useful. I'll wait until she walks away and then throw a bomb behind her," said Mirage. As the elite was hoping, the octoling who leaned against the railing decided to walk off and Mirage threw the bomb as she was intending too. The octoling heard something and looked behind her to see it sitting on the railed walkway and was thrown back and splatted from the blast.

Mirage and Vee ran ahead but were impeded by an octotrooper. It shot at them and Mirage threw another splat bomb at it, killing it on the platform. Vee spotted another vault the trooper was guarding and saw another inkling based weapon she had never seen before. Smaller than the splattershot pro. They were a pair of sprayers called duelies. She held them up, they were light compared to her octoshot.

"Guess those are yours, not sure what the advantage is of having two induvial weapons are though. Those squids come up with the most bizarre if that not useless things," said Mirage.

"I think they're fresh...as the inklings would say," said Vee, admiring the duelies.

"Don't go acting like one of those squids because your welding one of their weapons,"

"You're holding one of there's"

"Yeah but this has a much more tactical advantage than those toy sprayers. I think I'd rather stick to the octo shot if I were you.

"I'll give em a chance. Who knows, you may get impressed. They may not be as puny as they look. Big things can come in small packages,"

"I won't argue, you impressed me when you took down that octocommander back at the town,"

Just then a squad of octolings stormed through the doors and saw Mirage and Vee holding the their inkling weapons. "There they are! And they got a hold of the inkstain weaponry! Stop them!" commanded one of the regulars.

Mirage started blasting away and Vee fired her two duelies. One octoling was hit as the other two took cover behind a crate. Mirage octo formed and rushed behind a metal drum. Vee was still laying down fire but then she noticed a switch on the side of it. She turned it and instantly the duelies launched her in the air. The enemy octolings seen her as an easy target and got ready to shoot her down but Mirage intervened. She shot one of the octolings as she got ready to shoot Vee. "I want down! Mirage help me!" Vee screamed as the ink depleted from her tank and she fell to the floor dropping the duelies. Mirage grabbed her and pulled her to safety as the octolings returned fire.

"Oww...that wasn't fun," said Vee.

"I told you those things were useless, you're lucky you didn't get splatted," scolded Mirage.

The two octolings along with their wounded squad mate were still trying to make headway on subduing the pair, both sides couldn't make a move. "I'm gonna run out of ink at this rate. I got one last splat bomb I was hoping to save but..." said Mirage as she pulled it out and threw it behind the crate where the octolings were splatted by the bomb.

"You alright private," asked Mirage, checking on Vee.

"Yeah, my butt hurts though," she answered.

"Better it hurt then splatted. I'm low on ink and looks like your empty. Even if we collect our old ink it wouldn't be enough, c'mon. We gotta get out of this factory and find Luna and Star before it's too late," she said as she dragged Vee out of the room.

They headed back where they were at and were spotted by more octolings from down the hallway. Having no energy or ink to fight them. Mirage and Vee octoformed and scurried down the corridor back to the locker room and up the stairwell. Would the two get away in time or would they get caught?

Meantime back at the Emma's apartment, Luna was on the roof watching the area with her binoculars after waking up from her food-induced nap and leaving the two other octolings to sleep. Star came up through the roof and wondered what her squad mate was doing. "Hey, Luna what cha up to?" she asked the elite.

"Curious...seeing if there's any signs of any octarians or for that matter Mirage and Vee. I haven't seen nothing so far,"

"I hope nothings happened to them,"

"I hope not neither, Mirage is pretty resourceful though,"

"Sure is a peaceful night. Seems the fog crept in though, are you going to be able see anything through those things?"

"Hold on a minute...I'm seeing activity around the factory. Somethings got them stirred up," said Luna, looking through her binos toward the plant. Multiple troopers, octocopters as well as octopi were swarming the factory entrance but why? Then an alarm could be going off from the factory itself.

"Maybe it's Mirage and Vee," said Star.

"Don't know...we'll have to go down there. If it is the lieutenant and the private then they may need our help," said Luna as she put away her binoculars.

"Hey you guys, what cha doin' " asked Emma who swam up to the roof, clutching her doll.

"Hey Emma, we're just um...enjoying the view," replied Star with an awkward smile.

"We gotta go pipsqueak but thanks for the food," said Luna who started to walk off.

"You're...leaving but you just got here,"

"She's right. We gotta go. Our friends might be in trouble,"

"Friends?"

"Yeah our two squad mates I mentioned before. They came here like we did. We were trying to hunt for other octolings like us and any inklings with them. Which begs the question since you've been here long enough, you wouldn't have happened to see any octolings that were accompanying any inklings would you,"

"A couple of nights ago I heard some fighting but I stayed away. I didn't know what was going on and I was too afraid to go see. I don't remember seeing any inklings just those meanies that came here days ago. Since then the only power I've seen was coming out of the old factory my daddy used to work at,"

"I don't blame you, you're all by yourself out here. It's good you didn't go looking for danger but thanks for answering my question anyway," Star patted her on the head and started to follow Luna back down.

"Are you guys coming back?" Emma asked desperately, squeezing the octoball doll.

"I...don't know how to answer that question Emma," responded Star.

"But...you have to, please (sniffle) I don't wanna be alone again," she begged Star with pleading eyes.

"Emma this doesn't mean we won't see each other again. Right now me and Luna got to find our friends before those meanies get to them. You wouldn't want that would you," said Star. Luna rolled her eyes and Emma wiped her nose and shook her head at the response.

"Look, I'll come back and visit when I get the chance. I'll even see if I can take you with us back to our base after we find our team," Star reassured her.

"(sniffle) You promise," replied Emma, holding up her pinkie.

"I...promise," Star said hesitantly before the two pinkie promised to one another.

"I hate to break up this touching moment but we gotta get down sergeant. We can't waste another second, so say goodbye to the munchkin already," Luna walking over and placing her hand on Star's shoulder.

"Lieutenant, she just hate's to see us go. Why don't you be humble for once, she did invite us into her home and feed us but you were too busy stuffing your face,"

"Hey! I was hungry, all this running around and trying to avoid those inkheads builds up an appetite. Yeah, it sucks for the little rugrat but I'm focused on our mission and finding Mirage and Vee. Not playing babysitter for the little runt,"

I'm focused on the mission too but leaving Emma behind is going to be hard,"

"I know...but right now, mission is priority and the commander and Vee are probably in trouble right now and if we don't act they could end up getting killed, so let's move out before it's too late,"

Yes, lieutenant,"

"I'm sorry Emma,"

The little octoling downed her head and turned away. Star feeling guilty wanted to say more but knew Mirage and Vee were possibly in trouble. She gave a deep sigh and slide her goggles over her eyes and followed Luna out of the apartment. Emma held up her doll and looked at it. She thought to herself if Star and Luna couldn't stay then she would follow them no matter how dangerous it was. She dropped her doll and octoformed after them but kept a low profile so the two wouldn't see her as she left her apartment after them.

After being abducted by the elite and her unit back at the quarry. Seth's hands were bound as he sat inside the octoseeker. His gear was stripped from him and was searched of any contents that were in his pockets. His rifle, pistol and combat knife were confiscated, except for a small knife hidden in his boot. The octolings took the journal he came across back in the sewers and a photo of his wife and child.

Feeling mortified and his face was hurting from getting hit by the elite's octo shot. The octolings kept staring at him, they've never seen a human before and were curious. "You put up a pretty good fight human. To bad it wasn't enough to save your boney butt. Scarlet will be very pleased to see you," said the elite, who got his attention.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he muttered sarcastically as he shot the elite a glare.

"Your race is of great interest to us especially the technology they left behind. Our efforts to bring them back has been futile but with you... that won't be a problem anymore. How did you survive this whole time anyway?" she asked him, her back turned towards him as she turned her head to face Seth with a smile.

"What's it matter to you?" he asked bitterly.

"Oh it matters, if you survived then surely there's more...so tell me, is there others?" she asked as she turned around towards him.

"...No,"

"I can tell you're lying," detecting he was withholding information from her by his expression. "Then who are these two humans?" she asked him, holding the photo in front of his face.

"Give that back!...Or I'll..." he shouted at her. He attempted to struggle but the octolings held him in seat.

"Or you'll what?...Who are they, are they around?" she asked again.

"I said give it back you piece of calamari! So help me, I'll bust that pretty face of yours," he snapped, still being restrained.

"Seems I hit a nerve. I assume you know them, you wouldn't be carrying this around if you didn't," she flipped the photo back over and looked at it again.

"They're my family. Like you would know what that even was octopus,"

"Family? Ha, octarians could care less about families, sure we reproduce but that's just natural instinct. Forming a family unit is inefficient and unbeneficial to our cause. We breed to build up our numbers for the army. Once an octoling becomes of age they are enlisted and become a part of the service. Troopers and non-octolings alike are created from a tentacle cut from our head and serve a subservient purpose, expendable most of the time but you humans on the other hand...are adaptive...something we octarians have a hard time trying to accustom too," she said placing the picture away and removing her goggles, revealing her green and purple eyes.

"How did you come up with that conclusion? You and your race have never seen a human until now. I'll admit you octarians are pretty resourceful and cunning but arrogant...my race's history is full of people and empires like the one your perceiving yourselves as. It won't end well I assure you and as for being a valuable asset for your plans, you can just kiss my ass because I'm not doing anything for you,"

This infuriated the elite. She balled and shook her fist ready to knock his ego right out of him but instead she calmed down and started to chuckle. "I'll just let you keep believing that...I won't let your stubborn will get under my tentacles. I have to say...I'm beginning to like you," she said as she placed her hand under his chin.

He growled and shook it off. "Join the fan club lady," he told her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let's just say you're not the only octoling that has a thing for me,"

"I wonder if you're referring to those defectors I've been hearing about. Don't tell me those traitors have an eye for you as well...this makes it that more satisfying. Knowing that the human they adore is about to be weaponized against them and those inkstains back on the surface," she said before she started laughing.

"I wouldn't be laughing at my own joke... because that's never gonna happen!"

"Oh you don't think so...I'll just have to prove you wrong won't I," she said with a smile as she crossed her arms. "How much longer until we reach octo base, you waste of ink," she sneered at the twintacle pilot.

"10 minutes ma'am...and please lighten up on the insults," he replied.

"Spineless tentacle...it still serves a purpose I suppose,"

Seth had to think of a way to get out of his dire predicament but he was trapped in the octoseeker with two squads of octolings not counting the elite. Not to mention if he did escape he was hundreds of feet up in the air, what then?...but he was desperate.

"Hey!...you don't mind if we get some fresh air in here. I'm getting nauseated by the ride. Surprised this piece of crap hasn't fallen out of the sky,"

"Fresh air huh...what do suggest I do?"

"Could you open the back hatch up...if you don't mind,"

"You want me to seriously open the back hatch...what are you up to human?"

"I don't like being cooped up in her with you octopi. Is it too much to ask for some fresh air,"

"Yes it is...so shut up and enjoy the ride,"

"Well, I tried asking nicely," said Seth as he quickly stood up and rush for the hatch release button but was grabbed before he could. The octolings wrestled with him and the elite punched him in the face for pushing her to the floor. "Restrain the fossil!" she screamed at her unit. As one the octolings tried to tackle Seth as two others were holding him. He kicked her and she flew back and hit the button on the wall. The hatch opened and now was his opportunity to plan his escape but how on earth would he being so far up in the air. Sunlight blinded Seth for a moment and the octolings that weren't adjusted to the sunlight. He saw he wasn't underground but back on the surface just above octo canyon. He spotted multiple small canyons below and then he saw what appeared to be a river being fed by a waterfall. Now was his chance to jump and land in the water if he would survive the fall.

"Stop him!" demanded the elite, trying to shield her face.

Seth looked back before the octolings reacted to their leader's command and jumped. As he fell he could hear the elite cursing and see the octoseeker fly away. The human crashed into the water below but struggled to get up being his hands were still bound. He thrashed and splashed, unable to stay on the surface to grab some air and slowly sank like a rock. It was just like the dream he had a few nights ago after he met Mirage and her team. Would Seth drown like he did in the dream or by some miracle would he make it.

Back at the facility, Lily and Dexter decided to venture out and find their own way back to Inkopolis, the inkling capital. It was night time and the two weren't sure exactly where they were going as dark as it had gotten. They got off the elevator 20 minutes ago and recently left the housing at the bottom of the hill from the underground complex where the other inklings along with Flow and the octolings were staying.

"Do you even know where we are going?" asked Lily in a snide tone.

"Of course I do! I remember the octopi leading us out of that tea kettle is up here somewhere," he snapped at her as the two were walking down the trail leading toward the abandoned shop and kettle. As they were approaching it, Lil' buddy was asleep, curled up in an old tire until it heard footsteps approaching. The little fish perked up and rose it's head, thinking that Sam and Seth had returned as it wagged it's fin but instead it was Lily and Dexter walking by.

The little salmonid decided to investigate and scurried over to where they were at but hid behind a pile of trash before it approached them. Lil' Buddy saw they were inklings like Sam, it's master and concluded they must've been friendly like her. It jumped out of the bushes and barked at them from behind.

When Lily saw it, the inkling girl immediately jumped back and screamed. Confused the small fry tilted it's head and tried to swim up to Lily. She backed away even more before Lil' Buddy decided to stop.

"Oh my cod, what is that thing!" she shouted.

"Huh...a salmonid, down here?" replied Dexter.

"Splat it! It's hideous,"

"Hmpf...you afraid of that small fry. I remember splatting little chum like that when I was working for extra bucks at Grizzco's. I might not have an ink weapon but a stomp from my boot I'm sure will do the trick," said Dexter as he walked up to the little fish and lifted up his foot. As he slammed it down, Lil' Buddy dodged it. He tried stomping on the fish again but it evaded a second time.

"Hold still you little shit," Dexter sneered at the fish.

Lil' Buddy finally decided to retreat back to the shop as Dexter pursued it. "Get back here!" Dexter shouted.

Lily followed as the fish ran in the shop and hid away from the malicious inkling. "Come out you ugly guppy," said Dexter as he stepped into the store. Lil' Buddy kept out of sight knowing the inkling was willing to harm it. As Dexter was looking around he spotted a workbench in the garage through a doorway.

Lily stepped in gripping her arms, uncomfortable about walking in the littered and dirty old shop that was being used as a hideout for Sam and her new salmonid companion. "Dexter can we go. I don't like this place. It's so...disgusting," Lily said not seeing Dexter anywhere until she looked and saw he was messing with the tools in the garage. "Dexter," she called out.

"What!" he snapped.

"Quit messing around and let's get out of here. This place is giving me the ink bumps...and did you ever deal with ugly fish thing?" she asked him.

"The salmonid...nah, it turned tail and hid somewhere. Looks like someone's been here by the looks of things," he answered, looking inside the garage.

Near the doorway was the workbench. At the other side of the room were tool drawers and a cabinet. Beside the workbench was a zapfish hooked up to the junction box powering the room. "For a zapfish to be there, somewhere must have been occupying this old shop," said Dexter.

"More the reason to leave before they get back," said Lily, urging to go.

"Who in the squid would stay in this dump?" asked Dexter.

"That squid would be me!" shouted a voice from the entrance of the shop. Lily was so frightened by the unexpected voice she reverted to her squid form and fainted on the floor. "Who are you!" Dexter exclaimed, startled himself.

A dark figured revealed itself into the lighting of the shop. It was none other than Sam, clutching her shoulder and bruised up from the fight with the elite at the quarry. Lil Buddy came out of hiding seeing Sam had returned and scurried past Dexter and hugged the inkling girl's leg.

"Wait, you're that inkling chick from before. I remember you talking to those octolings. Don't tell me you're the one that's being staying here," said Dexter.

"What's it matter to you...and I would appreciate if you didn't call my little hideout a dump," she said.

"What are doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be back at Inkopolis and what's with those clothes, you get into a fight with a cohock?" he asked her with an attitude. Sam was still her torn black top and sweat pants. Around her neck was a twister white cloth that formed a collar. Her hands and feet were wrapped and on her back was her rucksack and ink bottle.

"How about you just shut your beak before I stick my foot somewhere it doesn't belong. I'm not from Inkopolis for your information. I'm here tracking down my sister so get out of my way," Sam told Dexter as she pushed him aside to repair her ink bow at the work table.

Dexter decided to check on Lily, who he poked to see if she was even conscious. She blinked her eyes in her squid form and saw Dexter looming over her. When she came to her senses she sat up and changed back. "Ugh...what happened?"

"You got the ink scarred out of you, literally" he told her.

Lily noticed the ink puddle she left behind and how wet her shorts were. Dexter gave a grin and Lily flustered with a red face. "Don't you dare laugh or I'll slap that grin right off you face,"

"Sorry but that was funny. You wouldn't make in the turf war games," he said trying not to laugh.

"Like I care about those stupid games...how would you like it if someone scared the ink out of you too?" she told as she stood up.

"I don't scare easy," he said boldly.

"Would you two stop bickering and just ink off! I can't think with all your jabbering, geez," Sam snapped at them, causing Dexter to jump from the outburst.

"Whose she and what's her problem," Lily asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"You don't remember that chick from before. The one that was talking to the octolings,"

"Oh...no I didn't. I didn't recognize her wearing those rags. I certainly wouldn't be caught dead wearing such attire. She'd be the laughing stock of the entire square. What is she poor too," scoffed the pompous squid girl.

"I don't give a carp what you think you uppity squid. In the splatlands it's do or...not do? Anyway I could care less about my appearance and I suggest you just keep your opinions to yourself miss inky pants," Sam said pointing at her ink dripping shorts. "I'll be nice and let you use the shower. I don't have any spare closes for you to wear though,"

"Shower? I could really use one," Lily said.

"In the other room," Sam pointed out before walking back in the garage.

"Thanks and...(sigh) sorry..." she said with a insincere apology to Sam.

"Hmpf...that sounded like it took some effort for you to apologize to that chick...she's not bad looking though. I like the tattered look," complimented Dexter.

"You're really admiring those worn out clothes she's wearing. It looks like she got dragged through the piranha pit if you ask me,"

"Jealous much," replied Dexter with a smirk.

"Of her, please," she told him as he grinned. "You remember what I told you about grinning at me didn't you," she threatened as he backed off with his hands up.

She left to go take a shower but as she did, turned the corner and glared at him. "And don't you dare look, you peeping squid,"

"It's tempting but...I'll leave her alone," said Dexter as left out of the shop and plopped on a crate outside, staring at the night projected fake sky. "(sigh) I miss home...can't wait to get back. Maybe I can talk that squid chick into getting us back to inkopolis. By what I heard from before she can handle herself. Shoot, she made it down here by herself didn't she... and what's the splatlands? I've never heard of the place,"

Lily had taken off her button up shirt revealing a black undershirt that went down above her naval. She pulled it off too and then her tight black ink-drenched shorts. Her crouch was covered in yellow ink, feeling embarrassed by what she did in front of Dexter. The inkling jumped into the stall and turned on the water, washing away any sweat, grime or ink she had on her. As she stood there she thought about home and then thought about Dexter. As much as he teased her and got under her tentacles he wasn't such a bad guy but as those thoughts ran through her head she shook it and remembered he was nothing but a delinquent and she seen herself as an affluent squid from a high class family but... was being a girl from a well-off upbringing really satisfying or was there more to life than that. A world beyond her somewhat lavish lifestyle.

After a few minutes, when she got done washing, she rinsed off what ink she could off her shorts and got back in her dirty clothes feeling somewhat better after getting a well deserved shower. When she came back into the store front she saw Dexter was gone and Sam was still tinkering with her ink bow.

"Dexter," she called before stepping outside and seeing him sitting on the crate. "Oh...um, there you are," she said.

"You already done washing yourself," he replied not even looking at her.

"Yeah...something bothering you?"

"Why you asking,"

"I'm just wondering, sheesh...you don't have to be so rude about it,"

"Being rude huh, doesn't feel too good does it,"

"I...(sigh)...No,"

"Thought so...you wanna sit down," he told her as he moved over.

"I guess,"

After a few seconds the two remained quiet and looked up at the fake night sky. "I...miss home," said Lily.

"You know...you may be a pompous squid but you could learn some etiquette and be nicer for a change,"

"Excuse me, you say I need etiquette. What about you. You're the one that comes off with the bad boy attitude. I think it's you that needs to learn some manners,"

"Yeah, I can be rough around the edges but I am sincere and do sometimes care even if I don't show it,"

"Alright then (sigh) I'll be...nice but you gotta be too,"

"Fair enough...so how did a squid like you end up down here anyway. You know before we were put in cages back at that shithole octarian base,"

"Uh language... and to answer your question, I don't really know...I can't remember what happened before I woke up in that dirty decrepit cell,"

"Odd...I'm the same way. Did those octolings do something to us. I can't remember what happened either. I mean...I did remember chillin' with my pals back at the square that one night after I talked with Merch about some contraband. That little urchin was starting to get cold feet on me...nervous he was gonna get caught and reported. Kicked out of the square. Everything's kinda hazy between that time and when I woke up with those other inklings in that jail cell with me," he explained.

"So you can't remember anything? I could recall leaving school and heading home and after that it was a blur. This can't be a coincidence," she replied.

"I don't think so neither. We wake up at that octarian base, we escape with those octopi and then we end up here. There's gotta be an explanation,"

"Well whatever it is I never wanna go through with it again,"

"Not over my dead body,"

"You would protect me,"

"Of course I would, we're in this together aren't we," he told her with a smile.

She gave a half smile back as she relaxed her arms and laid her hands down on the crate, only to accidentally place them over Dexter's. The two jerked and removed their hands from one another. Dexter turned his head to hide his blush as he rubbed the back of his head. Lily likewise was keeping him from seeing her gesture and twiddled her long tentacle bang. "Hey...after this you...wanna grab a soda or something from krusty sean's," asked Dexter.

"Bleh...from that nasty food truck...sure, I'd...like that," Disapproving at first but warmed up to the offer with a smile.

"Someone's suddenly taken my advice," he said with a smirk.

"Huh, oh you...inkhead," she blurted with a slight blush.

"Scratch that...looks like you still need work," still smirking.

"Guess you're gonna have to keep training me huh, don't think this mean you're off the hook. You need to work on your etiquette as well," she told him with her own smirk.

"Well I hate to tell you this but good luck with that,"

"I have ways of breaking you," she said as she narrowed her eyes.

"Like how, pray tell,"

"This," she said as she swept in, pulled his shades off and gave the inkling boy a kiss for a few seconds before pulling off. Dexter did not expect that coming from the preppy squid girl that ambushed him with that kiss. He was frozen in place unable to react to or what to say to Lily. She waved her hand in front of his face thinking she literally broke him until he rolled his eyes back and fell to the ground.

"Dexter are you alright?" jumping off the crate and looking down at him. It was apparent that the inkling was caught off guard and a little dazed.

"Ugh, yeah...I didn't expect that," he muttered as his face was planted into the ground. He finally rose his head and looked at Lily. "Maybe I was wrong about you," he told her.

"About what...me breaking you. That this uppity squid can change and prove you wrong,"

"Yeah, I'll admit it, OK...we got off on the wrong tentacle. We both judged one another on how we looked and then how we acted toward one another,"

"Looks like I broke you after all. Do I see a softer side coming out,"

"Don't push it,"

Back in the garage, Sam just got done mending her ink bow that got damaged during the battle back at the quarry. Lil' Buddy could tell something was wrong with Sam. She turned around and spotted the little salmonid staring at her. "Oh, hey lil' buddy. I forgot all about you," she told it before picking the fish up. It hugged her and then she laid it back down on the floor.

"Seth...he got kidnapped and it's all my fault. I could've stopped them but...no Sam, you did your best. I gotta find those octolings and tell them what happened," she told herself.

She quickly grabbed her repaired ink bow, almost stepping on Lil' Buddy as she rushed out the door. When she headed outside she saw the two inklings sitting next to each other. "You two finally kissed and made up," she teased to Lily and Dexter.

"What, no...we were just...admiring the stars," said Lily defensively.

Dexter saw Sam was anxious to go somewhere and asked her, "Where are you going in such a rush?"

"I gotta hunt down that octoling unit. You know the ones that Seth was with, the human," she answered.

"The human?...oh, I totally forgot about that guy but why are you trying to find them for?" asked Lily.

"Seth got taken by those octojerks! I mean the bad ones. The guys you were trying to get away from. They took Seth and... I couldn't stop them. That's why I need to find those octolings. I'm gonna need there help to get Seth back,"

"That's terrible... but why would they want that human?" asked Lily.

"I remember those octopi mentioning something about humans back at that prison of there's where we were held captive with the others. I'm not sure what for or what they're planning but I know it can't be good," said Dexter.

"I think they were headed toward the kettle on the east side of that town. That was the one headed toward that factory I think. My best bet is heading that direction. I don't know what you two are going to do but I gotta squid outta' here. Don't mess with my stuff while I'm gone or harm my salmonid," she told the two.

"That salmonid belongs to you?" asked Dexter.

"Yeah his name is Lil' Buddy, I found it here. It's pretty playful so if want to I'm sure he'd enjoy the company and a game of fetch,"

"Fetch? With a salmonid...are you loopy,"

"What? You don't have pet's in Inkopolis,"

"Some people keep sea snails for pets but a salmonid, we splat salmonids working for Mr. Grizz when we have to collect eggs for him. They're a nuisance to say the least and not all of them are little and ugly like the one you got," said Dexter as the small fry gave him a dirty look and growled, ready to bite the inkling on the leg.

"Well I like it...and I'm sure it didn't appreciate you insulting it," said Sam. Dexter looked down and spotted the fish shooting a glare at him. "What are you looking at you ugly guppy," Dexter told it before the small fry bit him right in the leg like it wanted to do.

Dexter yelled and shook the salmonid off his leg until it decide to let go and ran behind Sam. "Why you little..."

"Serves you right. Now if excuse me I got some octopi to track down," said Sam as she started to walk off toward the kettle.

"Hey hold up! I've been meaning to ask you if there's anyway you could take me and Lily back to the surface. I don't wanna stay down here another minute and I got things to take care of back in Inkopolis like dealing with a pesky urchin and some money a newbie turf player owes me," said Dexter.

"Weren't there four of you guys come to think of it and besides I don't got the time or the energy to be an escort service to take you guys back to Inkopolis only for me to come back down here. Find your own way back,"

"We can't get back. We don't know our way around this inking place and we're weaponless. You know your way around and you got that... what is that anyway. Is that some new turf weapon from the splatlands or something?" asked Dexter.

"This is an ink bow...and yes I got it from Splatsville. I'm guess you inklings don't have this available back at Inkopolis,"

"No we don't, looks interesting. Does it come with a special?" asked Dexter.

"It hasn't been set up with one yet. It's served me well so far, especially my first turf match with it,"

"So Splatsville, how big is it and you host turf wars there,"

"It's pretty big and yes we have turf war games there too. There a little different from yours. Different stages and different game modes. I could go into all the details about what we do there but right now I worried about Seth and catching up with that octoling squad. I suggest you start getting along with Lil' Buddy or I'll show what this ink bow can do," warned Sam before she finally left the kettle to hunt for Mirage and her team.

"Some help she was, what now Dexter," said Lily.

"(growl) I don't know... I don't wanna stick around here but I don't get caught by those octolings neither,"

"Should we just go back where Bill and Jazz are," she implied.

"I'm not going back to get bossed around by those octopi again, especially that inkhead specialist. He was just lucky I wasn't on my game of creaming his octopus butt," scoffed Dexter.

"So how do we find our way out of here then? It was your idea to leave and go out on our own...I still don't feel right leaving Bill and Jazz behind like that,"

"Well if you feel so bad then go back. Be my guest,"

"You don't have to be so snappy,"

"And you don't have to annoy me about it!"

"If you feel that way then... I'll go back. I'm not gonna spend my time trying to find my way back to Inkopolis with some jerk squid that doesn't even have a plan on how to get back to the surface anyway,"

"Fine by me. I don't wanna hang around a goody two shoes pompous squid anyway neither!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Lily was distraught and decided to head back to the facility. Her feelings were hurt by Dexter's behavior and Dexter was soured by Lily leaving him. The two seemed to have started a bond and try to get along even though they came from opposite backgrounds but now it seems the pair have went there separate ways.

Unaware to the two, they were being watched. A pair of green eyes were looking at the two inklings. As they saw Lily leave and transform into a squid, heading back to the facility. The mysterious figure concealed themselves and waited for the inkling girl to pass by. Dexter on the other hand sulked at the shop and plopped down on the crate brooding over Lily's decision to head back.

The figure slowly headed up toward the shop but looked toward the kettle and decided to leave the area instead. They listened to the inkling boy muttering to himself. The figure wanted to see what was going on with him but shook their head and focused back on the kettle. They lifted the lid and hopped in, trailing Sam but that wasn't who they were after.

Sam had hopped into the kettle a few minutes ago to locate Mirage and her outfit at the dome where the octoweapons factory had resided and speaking of octoweapons factory, it seemed Mirage and Vee were boxed in by the octarian forces that were occupying the factory. Every attempt of trying to evade the enemy was a bust. Any hallway or bypass they would cross was blocked off and Mirage could see they were being cornered and quick. The elite's worst fears were realized when she and Vee were hemmed into a what appeared to be a large store room. The lieutenant and her private blockaded the door with a metal cabinet and anything else that was heavy.

"Come out! There's no chance of escape!" shouted an octoling banging on the other side of the door. Mirage and Vee got behind a couple of crates and aimed their octoshots at the door. "W...what do we do?" stammered Vee, fearing this could be there last stand.

"Pray for a miracle," Mirage answered.

The octolings continued to push against the door but to no avail they couldn't get it to budge. "It won't open sergeant! Those traitors got it blocked from the other side," said an octoling.

"Get an octopod up here now!" commanded the enemy sergeant. Two octolings left to retrieve one while the rest waited. Mirage and Vee weren't sure what the octolings would do now. Mirage expected them to do something in order to blow the door open so she looked around for any kind of vent or something they could escape through. Above them in the ceiling the elite spotted a vent. "Private come here...I might have found a way out. Help me push this crate under it," she said.

They dropped their octoshots and pushed the heavy crate under the vent. "climb up," she told Vee.

"But what about you?" the private asked nervously as she hopped on the large wooden box.

"I'm behind you...I'll watch the door and make sure they don't break through. If they do...make a run for it and don't stop until you're out of the factory,

"Lieutenant, I'm not gonna leave you behind..."

"That's an order. You have no choice. Just find Luna and Star. Regroup back at the facility and if Seth returns...tell him I'm sorry for booting him off the squad,"

"I think you should be the one to tell him that lieutenant,"

"Vee this is no time to..."

"Sergeant! Here comes the octopod!" shouted an octoling on the other side of the door.

"Hurry up and get into the vent before they breach the door private," Mirage commanded.

"No, I won't leave you behind," pleaded Vee.

"I said get into the damn vent!" she shouted at Vee aiming her octoshot at her. Vee climbed into the duct and looked down at Mirage.

Outside, the octopod charged at the door and exploded on impact causing the door to bust by it's hinges and allow the octolings to storm in. Mirage fell down from the blast and coughed from the churned dust. She turned and looked seeing the octopuses jump in and reform as they aimed their octoshots at her. Taking no time Mirage dove behind the crate and started shooting.

"Lieutenant!" yelled Vee.

"Just go! I'll hold them off!"

"But..."

"I SAID GET OUT OF HERE!"

Vee's lip quivered as she held her tears back before octoforming and swimming down the duct and finding an escape out of the factory. Mirage incapacitated two octoling soldiers and then the octoshot was knocked out of her hand by a stream of ink. The octolings moved in as Mirage pulled out her knife. "If I'm going down, I'm going down fighting," the elite muttered as the octoings held their octo shots on her.

Vee could ink fire echoing down the vent duct from the room, fearing the outcome of her squad leader. She couldn't stop, she had to try and escape to hunt for Luna and Star, her other team members. Up ahead the octoling spotted a vent grate and went through as she fell out and hit the ground.

She got up and looked back at the vent for a moment hoping her commander escaped like she did but the elite never came out. "Mirage," Vee called out toward vent but got no reply. Things had looked grim, Vee started to cry and walked over toward the wall to sit down under the vent. Feeling guilty for leaving Mirage even though she was ordered, so she curled up, burying her face in her knees.

Inside the store room where Vee just escaped. Her commander was laying motionless on the floor. The enemies' octo shot nozzles were dripping ink from being fired. Was Mirage finished off and went down fighting like she intended to if it meant that Vee could escape? It seemed that way but...

Mirage's hand moved, balling up. Another elite had entered through the entry way of the room, where the octopod detonated allowing the octoling unit to pass through and breach the room. Her goggles covered her eyes and her arms crossed behind her back. She slowly walked into the room as the octolings watched and stood at attention.

Mirage moaned and coughed as she started to sit up. Her torso covered in ink from being pelted by ink shots. Thankfully she managed to survive but it was now apparent she was subdued by the enemy octoling unit. "Ah, you're still as tough as I remember, lieutenant," said the approaching enemy elite.

Mirage blinked and slowly lifted her head and looked at the enemy elite though her eyesight was slightly blurred. "You're reputation proceeds you...but luck has a knack of running out doesn't it...my old commander," scoffed the elite as she grinned at Mirage.

"Just...who are you," Mirage asked weakly. Who stared at the enemy elite with her eyes uncovered, her goggles knocked off when she fell to the floor from being struck by the ink.

"It's been a little while hasn't it. Let me jar your memory," she said as she squatted down.

The elite pulled her goggles off. Mirage's eyes widened for a moment but then they narrowed realizing who she was. "You remember now don't you... by your expression I would say you do, lieutenant," sneered the enemy elite.

"Nova...what are doing here. I assumed were still with the royal guard," said Mirage, wiping ink of her mouth.

"I got reassigned... Scarlet wanted to rearrange things, maybe part it has to do with my service record then again we know who to partly blame for that won't we. So I'm here, in charge of the octoweapons plant, ensuring progress is going at full speed and then here you are throwing a monkey wrench into the works...or did you decide to come visit me. Try to mend fences from your past mistakes...I'd still be in the royal guard if it weren't for and probably be ranked captain by now but instead I'm here watching and in charge of this ink hole, thanks to you," she told Mirage harshly.

"(coughing) Lieutenant Nova...you need to learn to let things go, the past is the past and that wasn't my intentions,"

"I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT TRAITOR! You abandoned your duties and left octo base. Me and the rest of the royal guards were interned and interrogated. They thought we had a hand in Octavio's defeat and your dereliction reenforced that claim. I had to sit in prison for months until Scarlet pardoned us, seeing us as useful and still loyal to the octarian rule but it cost us our places in the royal guard and were we reassigned for different tasks. Our honor stripped and our loyalty questioned... I live with that everyday," said Nova, clinching her fist with disdain.

"Honor...let me tell you something honor Nova. We all gave our full potential and our utmost dedication to protecting Octavio, the octarian council and our people from the inkling threat but... my eyes opened. The goggles came off... my perception changed. No longer did I see a proud octarian empire but a crumbling one. Octavio used us... he didn't care about his people or anyone under him, we were nothing but expendable assets for that big ego of his. He wasn't a leader... he was a tyrant pushing a narrative. He used the great zapfish for himself instead of using it to restore power to our people who were suffering. I've seen him splat our own for just daring to question his authority... the hypnowaves never allowed us to think for ourselves, why would he want to keep us under control... make us blind to the truth," said Mirage as the octolings looked at each other.

"Don't listen to this traitor...You're in no place to lecture me Mirage, especially after you deserted your post and left me and the others to sit in a cell. That inkstain song has corrupted you and you dare bring up loyalty and slander Octavio. Words from a once decorated and proud elite that's defected and turned her back against her kind. See she's thrown in a cell with the rest of those turncoats," ordered Nova.

The octolings grabbed Mirage by her arms and cuffed them. She was led out of the room and dragged to a warehouse where the octarians used the caged rooms as cells for prisoners. Mirage was thrown in a cell that was already being occupied by other octolings that were deemed defectors. The cell door was slammed behind her as a twintacle jailer glared at the cellmates before it walked off.

Mirage sat up and rubbed her head. She looked around her saw other octolings approach her. Hungry and uncertain on who their new cellmate was. Mirage stood up and brushed herself off. "Who are you?" one of the regulars asked her.

"Did Maxine send you? or did you defect from Nova's bunch?" asked another.

"By your question I assume your sergeant Maxine's unit," replied Mirage.

"Yes...do you know her," asked an anxious octoling.

"She's staying at our base. I'm part of a different unit well squad technically. We stumbled across each other when me and my team reconned a town further south from here. She informed me about an ambush she and her unit got separated from. It was just her, a male specialist and four inklings and one sea hare,"

"Specialist...must be sigma. What a dork...he survived?" replied an octoling.

"You have a base?" asked another one.

"It's an underground facility of human origin, as a matter of fact...I need to ask that you keep this to yourselves. For what I'm about to tell you may seem incredible but his existence could be vital to Scarlet. None of the octarian forces can know he's around," said Mirage.

"Who? Why does this need to be kept a secret?" asked one of them with suspicion.

"You have to keep this intel among yourselves. I'm being serious, his existence is crucial to the octarians and Scarlet cannot know about this,"

"What? Tell us already..."

"Me and my squad encountered something that we believed to have been long dead along with his race. It seems...the humans are not extinct after all as least a handful possibly depending if any of them survived their sleep that is. We've come across a human, a living breathing human, a soldier at that. we found him in one of the outer domes. The one where the human facility is located,"

"I don't believe that for one second. Humans are extinct as much as Scarlet herself wants to bring them back. There's nothing left but their fossilized remains and the technology they left behind that's been nothing but a convenience for us. Surely my leader Maxine isn't believing this either,"

"She's gotten to met him,"

"Bull carp! I'm beginning to think everything you're telling us is a load of ink. What's to say you're not some kind of mole placed in here for you to get information,"

"I'm not lying...it's the truth I can promise you,"

"She did bring up about the ambush and Sigma. I don't think she's lying...what if the humans she's talking about do exist,"

"If that's the case then this elite is right. Scarlet can't know about this," said one of the octolings, who seemed to have authority over the rest of them. "Is he even in a secure location?"

"Negative...he was a part of my squad,"

"What! You tell us about this human and now you expect me to believe you drafted a human into your squad. What do you take me for," said the one octoling not buying Mirage's story.

"I expect you to take me for a superior officer that doesn't like getting criticized and questioned. I came here looking for your butts not on your commander's request but mine. I risked my tentacles along with my squad to get here and locate you so we could build up a force large enough to reach the surface. We were starting to lose hope that any of you were even still alive," said Mirage, looking critically at the octoling with her arms crossed.

"Many of us escaped and don't take that as cowardice. We were outnumbered and outgunned. Sticking around to fight was futile. We tried to regroup but there were too many of them and they had covered this whole entire town to hunt us down. Our comms were jammed and I'd say only half of us made it. I'm not so sure about the inklings though. Their weren't that many of them,"

"Between my team and you guys I think we could hold our own just enough to leave the domes and escape. If we can think of a way to get out of here that is," Mirage told the octolings before the twintacle jailer walked over and looked at them. It narrowed it's eyes and gave a gargle, then continued walking.

"I got an idea," said one of the octolings. The octolings gathered around and formulated a plan to lure the octarian into a trap.

A few moments later as the twintacle made another pass beside the cell. Mirage was laying on the floor curled up, holding her stomach, acting as if she was in pain.

"Yeah, that I'll teach you octowinch!" shouted a regular who loomed over Mirage's body.

The twintacle looked and watched the fake confrontation. "Leave her alone sergeant!" shouted another octoling.

"She deserved it! Mouthy elite thinks she can get thrown in here and boss us around. Who does she think she is!" the sergeant snapped, looking down Mirage who was laying on the floor acting as if she had been injured.

"Enough...I think you hurt her," said the corporal.

"Hey! You need to get someone down here and look at her," shouted one of the privates at the twintacle jailer looking at them.

The twintacle eyed Mirage who was lying on the floor wondering what was going on. The sergeant kicked Mirage, motivating the twintacle to intervene and unlock the gate to rush in and stop the octoling sergeant from hurting Mirage anymore. It moved in and accessed Mirage before she looked over and gave a smile at the unsuspecting twintacle. The twintacle gave a confused look before the sergeant punched the twintacle as it turned around.

She grabbed it's key set and helped Mirage on her feet before the twintacle could get up. "Nice acting," she complimented Mirage.

"Thanks, and why did you have to kick me that hard," replied Mirage, rubbing her stomach.

"Sorry I had to make it convincing before that gullible tentacle caught on,"

"Let's just release the others and get out of here before anyone else comes down here,"

Mirage, the sergeant and the others hurried to unlock the other cells beside them holding more of Maxine's unit and other prisoners. Mirage spotted another cell housing some non-octarians. two troopers, a twintacle, an octoball and one octopod.

"Who are these guys," said the sergeant. The twintacle saw the octolings were free and ran up toward the gate. "Hey! Let us out!" it shouted at them.

"Why are you tentacles in here?" asked Mirage.

"Those octolings stuffed us down here because they think we're screw ups. We had enough and then they dragged us down here because of insubordination," said the desperate twintacle.

"I didn't think you tentacles had the will power to refuse orders," said Mirage.

"If we're pushed enough we will...so you gonna let us out?!"

"What are they gonna bring to table besides being dead weight," said the sergeant.

"I'll free you but after that you're on your own," Mirage told the group of misfit octarians.

"Take us with you! We don't wanna get caught and stuffed in this cell again," said one of the troopers.

"I can't afford you to lug us down so you better keep up," she snapped at them as she unlocked the cell and opened it.

"Well we don't have our scooters," said the trooper as they walked out.

"Guess you'll be using those little legs of yours," Mirage replied.

"Typical octoling," the trooper popped off with disgust.

The octopod was running itself into the cage wall. Mirage and the sergeant were confused to what was wrong with the octopod. "Um...it does that, maybe the reason why it got put in here with us. It's a wonder it didn't explode yet, we just call it Bob," said the octoball.

"Do something with that walking bomb or I'm leaving it here," snapped Mirage. The octoball got the octopod's attention and managed to coax it out before it hoped on the walking torpedo and rode it, following it's tentacle brethren.

"Quite a crew we got. You sure you want those rag tag tentacles with us. They're just expendable grunts," said the sergeant.

"Maybe so but they wanted freedom like we did and with them objecting from their directives, they may be somewhat useful. It's odd that they would refuse orders or even carry any sense of independence," said the elite.

"Whatever, let's just get out of here before anymore of those inkheads show up and figure out what's going on," the sergeant told her.

Mirage, Maxine's unit and the non-octarians rushed out of the warehouse and hunted for a way out of the factory without getting seen by the octarian forces occupying the factory.

Vee was outside in a backlot, hiding from the octarian patrols walking around the factory. She took cover behind some crates containing octoweapon parts and waited for the patrols to leave. Once they did she octo formed and slipped off toward the exit but yet again was stopped by a pair of troopers guarding the entry.

She hid again and saw the troopers weren't moving so she was stuck unless she could find another exit. She contemplated what to do but then all of a sudden she heard a loud splashing noise coming from the gate. She turned and looked, seeing the troopers were splatted, reduced to puddles leaving behind their vehicles. What happened? Who killed those troopers? Vee was thinking.

Then she heard the sound of a sploosh before two octopuses came down in the yard and landed. Vee looked and once they changed back, a sign of pure relief appeared on her face. She rushed over to see it was her two squad mates. "Luna! Star!" she shouted startling the octolings before she tackled them, giving them a hug.

"Whoa, easy there Vee," said Luna.

"Where have you guys been? I was worried sick," said Vee as she pulled off.

"I guess you can say we got lost. We saw there was activity around the factory so we assumed they must've spotted you guys. Where's Mirage?" asked Star.

Vee's expression turned to dread as she closed her eyes and downed her head. Shaking it. "No...don't tell me that..." Star started to say. By Vee's expression, something had clearly happened.

"There's nothing I could've done," Vee pouted, keeping her head down and her tears back.

"Bull carp!" Luna blurted in disbelief.

"She held them back while I escaped," she said as dropped to her knees and started whimpering. Star bent down to hug her while Luna bared her teeth and threw her octo shot. "There's no way she's dead...Mirage has survived worst. I know she's alive, she has to be," exclaimed Luna.

"What do we do know, without Mirage," asked Star who was starting to cry herself.

"I'm going in," jeered Luna, picking her weapon up and sliding her googles back over face.

"What. No Luna you're going to get yourself killed," said Star, holding Vee.

"I'm not going to stand back and let those bastards get away with this. We have a mission to fulfill and if we don't complete it then her death would have been in vain. So are two coming with me am I going to do this alone," said Luna sternly as she turned to look at the two octolings.

"Luna...don't go," said Vee.

"I'm finishing the mission for Mirage's sake. If she went down fighting then I'm willing to. Now are you with me or not?" she said as she faced away from them, clutching her octoshot.

"How do expect to us to face a factory full of octarians with just the three of us?" Star pointed out with Luna's irrational strategy.

"We do the best we can... running away and fleeing back to the base isn't an option for me. It's just a matter of time until they find us. I'd rather go down fighting than go down a coward knowing I could've tried to stop them. If you wanna head back then go ahead...but I'm staying," said Luna as she started head off.

"I'm coming Luna," shouted Vee as she stood up and shoved Star to catch up with her teammate.

"What Vee, you can't..."

"She's gotta point. I wanna make this right by Mirage. I know she told me to run but I'm not running this time,"

"I can't let you two go at this by yourselves...count me in. For Mirage," said Star as she covered her eyes with the googles and grabbed her octoshot.

The three of them gathered around and placed their hands out, conjoining them, making a pact to fight to the last breath and impeding the octarians plans of constructing the octoweapons and foil their operations of taking over the surface and attacking the inklings. As they pulled away, Vee and the others heard something. They looked and spotted a little octopus headed toward them. Luna aimed her octoshot ready to splat the cephalopod but when it stopped and changed forms she lowered it, realizing who it was.

"Emma!" shouted Star, stunned that the little young octoling girl would appear.

"Whose she?" asked Vee.

"The little twirp must've followed us," said Luna.

"Emma you shouldn't be here," said Star.

"I overheard everything and well...I wanna help,"

"You're too young squirt. Head back home before anyone sees us," snapped Luna.

"No, I wanna help you guys. I wanna stop these meanies too,"

"Emma that's admirable of you but you're inexperienced and like Luna said, you're too young and little,"

"Too little but I've been taking care of myself since my parents left me,"

"Wait, you've been in this place by yourself this whole entire time, you poor thing," said Vee.

"Who are you?" Emma noticing the private, who she hadn't met yet.

"My name's Vee, how do Luna and Star know you?"

"Umm we met back at the food store. They were really nice to me so I let them stay over at my house and let them eat the food I collected over the years I've been here. Are you guys sisters or something?" asked Emma.

"Oh no, those are my squad mates. I know you're a little young to understand..." Vee wanted to explain but was cut off by Luna.

"Alright you two, enough with the idle chit chat. Vee get ready and Emma...just go home already. we can't have you sticking around bothering us," said Luna.

"Plus I don't wanna see you get hurt little lady," Vee told her.

"But,"

"No buts...let's do this," said Luna as she ran toward one of the bay doors. Star followed and then soon Vee as Emma stayed behind. The three of them hugged the wall and prepared to sneak into the building and finish the mission. Emma decided to pout and plop herself on an old crate, sitting their she heard approaching voices. She hopped up and hid behind the crate seeing two octolings approach. They stood there chatting amongst each other, Emma just watching the two talk and stayed out of sight, hoping she wouldn't get caught but then an idea popped in her head and a mischievous expression appeared on the little octoling's face.

Somewhere on the surface, deep below the outer canyons of the octarian territory. Seth had washed ashore on the bank of a nearby river. He coughed up some water and gave a gasp of air before turning over to see the real sky above him as a bird flew over. It was near dawn, the sun was slowly coming up over the horizon, lighting up the sky causing the stars to disappear overhead.

Was he dreaming? Was he dead? Was all that was running through his mind. He heard footsteps pressing into the sand behind him. A figure approached Seth who was laying on the bank, wet and drenched from splashing down into the river after falling out of the octoseeker. He looked up and saw a figure staring at him, he blinked and when his vision finally cleared up. It was someone he'd never expect out here by themselves. "F...Flow..." Seth said with a weak and hoarse voice.

The sea hare that was accompanying the inkling prisoners was staring over him with her big green eyes. She gave a smile and tilted her head with her eyes closed. "Flow...what are doing out here. I thought you were back at the facility with the others," said Seth.

She turned him over and used a rock to bash the cuffs loose. Seth sat up and rubbed his wrist once he was free before turning and looking at her with question. "I saw you fall from that flying machine before you landed in the river. If I hadn't done nothing you would've drowned," she told him.

"You...saved me? You watched me fall out of that octarian aircraft and into the river? How would've known all this. You mean to tell me you stood out here and waited for it to happen," said Seth, baffled that Flow would conveniently be around to rescue him out of the river.

"I envisioned it...that's why I left,"

"You...envisioned me drowning. I'm beginning to think you are a fortune teller...if that's the case would you happen to know where my family is or how I can get back do you," he asked her anxiously.

Flow got quiet, her cheerful expression turned more dire when he asked that. Seth was fearing the worse if she knew the fate of his wife and son. "Flow...what's wrong. Don't give me bad news...I couldn't endure it," he said, fearing what the sea hare may tell him.

"Your wife is still alive," she muttered without facing the human.

"She is...w...where is she, please Flow tell me," he pleaded as he crawled up to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"You...don't have to look for her," still not facing him.

"Huh, what do you mean," as he let go.

"You...may not be able to handle the truth," she told him as she faced him, her eyes pulsing and getting watery. At this point, hearing that Sarah was alive would've been good news but something was wrong and Flow was showing it.

"If she's still alive then I'm not sure what I could handle. What are you not telling me,"

"I...feel you'll be crushed by what I'm about to tell you,"

"What, what is it! Is she alive or not! Spill it!" Seth started shouting, getting impatient with the sea hare.

"She's here," Flow said with a whimper.

"She's where...in this canyon somewhere," Seth responded. He stood up and looked around before shouting, "SARAH! SARAH! PLEASE ANSWER ME!"

"Seth...you have to know something," Flow got his attention.

"I have to know what? What are hiding just come out with it you sea slug!"

"Sarah...is in front of you,"

"What...I don't understand. All I see is you...," He told her but his eyes widened and soon realized what Flow was trying to reveal to him. He shook his head slowly and walked back away from her. "No...no, no, no...No, you're...you're lying. Tell me where Sarah is now!" he shouted in disbelief.

"I am Sarah..." she finally told him.

"I won't believe this...if you won't tell me where Sarah is then I'll go find her without your help," Seth was still not convinced. Flow couldn't have been Sarah. He couldn't accept this. It was impossible. He seen Flow as no help and wouldn't believe that the sea hare that had traveled from Inkopolis was his wife.

Just before Seth went to leave, something glimmered in the palm of Flow's hand that she pulled out of her robe. Seth's eyes locked on the shiny object, he couldn't believe what he was looking at. It was Sarah's wedding band. He recognized it anywhere. "Where did you get that?" he asked.

"You presented it to me on our wedding, over 2,000 years ago after you proposed to me at the beach," she answered.

"No...I mean how did you obtain that. You must've stumbled across Sarah. How else would you have her ring. Why are keeping Sarah's acknowledgement from me!?" he was getting desperate and his behavior getting more irrational with Flow.

"Seth...don't be like this. I am Sarah whether you believe it not. After I met you...these...images, these memories kept coming to me. I never knew who I was before this happened. I wandered aimlessly in octarian territory trying to find answers. It was if something was leading me to that facility you woke up from. I made a promise to go back and be reunited with you after I left you behind. I couldn't stand the thought of you staying in hibernation while me and Virgil wondered around for any signs of others that may have left the facility. If I weren't Sarah I wouldn't have known these things. You have to trust me Seth. I am your wife and you're...my husband," she told him as she placed the ring around her finger. Tears were running down her cheek. She was remorseful of what had happened to her and Seth couldn't help but start to believe what she had said was true. She was clearly not making this up.

"This...can't be happening, you can't be Sarah,"

"I am...I knew you wouldn't able to handle the truth," wiping the tears from her eyes.

"How did this happen? Why are you a...slug,"

"I couldn't answer that Seth. As far back as I can remember I've been like this but after a week ago. I started having these visions. It wasn't my body and it wasn't my life. I was confused at first and then I became scared. So scared I left Inkopolis and made my way down here. I wish things were normal...I wish I never became this...oh Seth, I'm so sorry," she started to cry and cover her eyes.

Seth walked up to her and embraced the weeping sea hare. His warm body gave her security and reassurance that Seth may have accepted the truth. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to get my wife back," he told her plainly as his chin rested on her shoulder.

"Seth...you do believe," she said as she embraced Seth, who she still loved.

"I don't know what to believe anymore. Waking up, I haven't been right. Nothing has been. Meeting those octopus girls. Fighting goofy tentacles and then getting abducted...and now I find out my wife's been turned into a sea slug. How could things get any worse," he said as he chuckled, mixed emotions of both joy and anguish.

"Seth...I have to tell you something, something important," she told him as she pulled off and looked at him.

"What is it Flow, I mean Sarah,"

"(deep breath) I know you just found out but I wanted to tell you that... I won't carry Sarah's conscious after today,"

"Huh...that doesn't make any sense,"

"This body, this new mind won't allow Sarah to live on much longer. It's as if the other me had awakened but... I guess you can say, Sarah's soul dwells within me but eventually she's going to have to leave. I think she wanted to see you again and was desperate enough to hold on and not give up hope,"

"You're saying that...Sarah, the real Sarah or Sarah's conscience will go away for good," said Seth with a saddened expression.

"I'm sorry I had to tell you that. Sarah knows this and Flow has to move on. Let's just say Flow was the vessel and Sarah is the driver but... Sarah can't stay, not like this. This would mean any trace of memories of Her's, like remembering you as her husband and lover will disappear along with her,"

"So Sarah will pass away after today and you'll just be,"

"Someone who won't know you...that's the way it is,"

"Where's Virgil, where's our son?" he questioned getting off the grief-stricken topic.

"I...had to let him go. I couldn't take care of him anymore. He would've never recognized his mother," another tear ran down her face. Not baring to look Seth in the eye when she told him that.

"Sarah how could you do this. You let our son fend for himself!" he shouted at her. Upset she would abandon their own child no matter the situation.

"No, he had a good caring family to take care of him. A home...something I couldn't provide. I had no choice. If he stayed with me he...could've died. I couldn't feed him. I couldn't care for him. He was always wanting to know why I covered myself. I didn't want him to see me like this," she told him.

"Where is he?" he asked as his face darkened.

"I'm not sure. It's been so long he could be anywhere right now,"

"I can't take in what you've told me...you in this state and the fact that my wife is going to pass over and now... you just let go of our son,"

"Seth...you have to understand I didn't want this. Being in this body, letting go of Virgil... It's afflicted me for so long that I became numb from it and then Flow took over and what memories I had of him vanished along with you until...a week ago," she told as she reached out to him. He jerked away from the sea hare not wanting to look at her.

"I don't how to act right now. Whether I should be angry or just sickened. I might as well accept my wife and son are dead,"

"No they're not...even if you may not see us, we'll always be in your heart. Knowing we love you and that we all had to endure so much before we were placed in those pods and waking up afterward. Even if Sarah leaves...she won't be totally gone. She'll dwell in you Seth,"

"You are my wife. I recognize her lecturing anywhere. It's just... hard to accept. I won't be able to get over this for quite some time but that doesn't mean I won't try and find our son," he said, lightening up.

"I hope you do find him and tell him...I love him and I hated that I had to give him up," she said as she grabbed Seth's hand.

"I will Sarah," he said with a nod.

"Seth..."

"Yeah babe,"

"I still love you even if you see me as some sea slug,"

"Sarah I'll always love you...I don't care if you transformed into some sea creature or not. All that matters is what's on the inside. You'll still be my wife no matter what,"

"Oh, Seth," the sea hare said as she passionately grabbed his head and kissed him. Seth flinched a little but accepted it, knowing this was coming from his wife Sarah. She fell over on him into the sand and pulled off. Their eyes meeting as they smiled at each other. Looking into her green eyes, he remembered before there was something ominous about them and then he realized why.

She got off him and he stood up and brushed the sand off of him. "I don't suppose you know the way back," he asked her.

"It's a good hike to say the least,"

"Then we better go, you go ahead and lead Sarah,"

As Flow and Seth started to head off the bank they could hear something in the distance getting closer. They listened, it sounded sort of like a helicopter. Seth knew instantly what it was and grabbed Flow to the nearest boulder they could hide behind. Up above Seth spotted an octostriker looking over the river. It scanned the area below and the two hugged the boulder to stay out of it's sight.

"No sign of the human," it said over it's radio.

"Keep looking," the elite said over the comms.

The floating octarian left and hovered off down river to see if could track Seth's body. At a temporary base camp set up by the elite that dragged Seth into the octoseeker. She was briefing her unit to search the area for any signs of the human. Even if he was dead , they could still use his body and DNA to try and clone more humans. The unit splintered off into four man teams. They trekked through the forest and the canyons around the river to search for Seth along with octocopters and octostrikers providing an aerial view to make their search easier.

They were getting close to the bank where Flow rescued Seth from drowning in the river. The octocopter moved ahead and spotted the drag mark left by Seth as well as foot prints in the sand. It signaled to the octoling team and they octo jumped where the octocopter was at. "What's this?" asked on the octolings.

"Looks like the human might be alive, someone dragged his butt out of the water," said another one.

"How do you know he got help?"

"There's two sets of footprints inkhead, look,"

The octoling pointed out both Seth's and Flow's tracks in the sand. The two of them looked and knew if they didn't leave the octoling scouts would find them soon. "Sarah, we gotta get out of here. We'll head up the ravine and try to stay out of sight," he whispered to her. She nodded and the two of them snuck away up a rocky path leading upward.

The way up the ravine proved challenging. The path was steep and unstable in places. At one point, Flow took a step only for the ground to give away as rocks and small boulders rolled down the hill. Before she slipped and fell back, Seth caught her hand and pulled her back up. "Thanks, Seth," she told him.

"I not letting you go, just watch where you step," he told her.

They finally reached the top of the ravine and looked down at the river. "I have no idea where we're at besides being on the surface," said Seth. He turned to Flow and saw she was as baffled as he was. "I'm not sure where to turn," he said.

"Seth," she spoke.

"Yeah,"

"I'm so scared,"

"Don't worry, They won't see us as long as we stay out of sight,"

"It's not that, it's...the fact I won't remember you anymore. That we'll never get our old life back. I'm gonna miss you,"

"Maybe things will change. Maybe this isn't the end...I give up hope and I give up on you. We both made it through humanity's extinction and we make it through this,"

Seth's words somewhat lifted Flow's spirits up as she smiled at him. A smile Seth recognized before he and her were placed in cryostasis. After a moment the two of them looked back at the canyon for any sign to direct them back toward the domes but unaware, Seth and Flow were being watched from the tree line behind them. It was two octolings who detached from their unit. One of the octolings grinned and radioed to her superior through her goggles.

"I spotted the fossil but he isn't alone," said the regular.

"So he's alive after all...Who else is with him? Elaborate," demanded her commander over the radio.

"It appears to be an oceanic. It's neither inkling nor octoling, what do you want us to do lieutenant?" she asked her superior.

"What's your location,"

"We're half a click north of the river bank. On the ravine,"

"Stay in position and ensure those two don't leave the area. I'll have the octostriker head that way as well as the rest of the platoon,"

"Got it, we'll stay here and watch them,"

"So what now," asked the corporal.

"She said to ensure they don't leave," the sergeant replied.

Seth and Flow were approached from behind. The sound of brush ruffling behind them in woods caught there attention as well as two armed figures. Not suspecting to be held at gun point by two octolings that just came out of their hiding spots. "Don't move you two!" shouted the sergeant as she aimed her octo shot on the two and her partner held her octo brush up.

"You thought you could slip out of here didn't you," the sergeant scoffed. "Didn't think you'd make it taking that plunge human,"

The sergeant looked at Flow, raising an eyebrow. "And just who might you be?" she asked the sea hare.

"Please let us go, what do you want with Seth?"

"I'll be asking the questions here until my unit shows up," said the sergeant.

"Look you don't have to do this...let her go, I'll come peacefully,"

"Negative, I think we'll take you both prisoners. So I suggest you don't pull anything or I'll splat you're fossil butt,"

Seth saw he couldn't try to negotiate with the enemy octolings and had to think of something. The two cautiously moved up to the human and sea hare. "Sarah...I need you to get out of here when I get their attention," he whispered to her.

"No, I won't leave you again,"

"You have to, it's me they want,"

As the octolings got within just a few feet, Seth kicked the ground causing a dust cloud to disorient the sergeant as she coughed. This gave Seth the opportunity to punch her. The octoling fell back with a yelp and dropped her octo shot. "Sarah run!" he shouted. The octoling's partner swung her brush at Seth causing him to flail back and roll down the hill into the woods. "Seth!" Flow shouted seeing him thrown down the ravine.

She clinched her eyes and fled the scene while Seth was tumbling down the hill, getting battered by branches and rocks. As soon as he stopped he was bruised from head to toe, jeering in pain as he heard the octolings up top scream down at him. They octoformed and pursued him down the hill, eager to catch him before he got away.

He struggled to get up and stumbled as he ran away from the two pursuing octolings. He fought through bushes and traversed down a rocky path, nearly tripping on a root. The octolings caught up and the sergeant began shooting at him. The first few shots missed him but he was soon struck in the back, he yelled and fell to the ground. They saw he was hit and moved up to try and catch him but Seth was determined to get away.

He got up and continued running down the path toward an opening. The sergeant got on her radio as she rushed after him. "Target is fleeing, requesting back up!". The sergeant stopped and aimed her octoshot back on Seth and before he could reach the clearing he was hit again, this time he was too weak to get up. "Good hit," the corporal said. "Let's move up and bag our prize," she told the brush-wielding corporal.

The octoling pair moved up and watched Seth try to crawl away only to be stomped on by the sergeant. "Where do you think you're going?" the sergeant sneered. As Seth rolled back over he was jabbed by the sergeant's octo shot. "That's for punching me you stupid fossil,"

It seemed Seth was caught again and there would be no escape this time. The sergeant stared at him and grabbed him by his collar. With a black eye and blood coming out of his mouth, Seth wasn't going to make himself an easy catch. He spit blood in the sergeant's face, enraging her and punching him, knocking him to ground before she started kicking him, breaking one of his ribs.

"Sarge, knock it off you're going to end up killing him," warned the corporal.

"What's it matter if this pathetic human is dead or not. As long as we bring his worthless body back to HQ," she sneered angrily, kicking him again as he yelped.

"Our commander would prefer he was alive," the corporal tried to reason as she grabbed her arm.

"Fine! At least he's too beat up to fight or get away," said the sergeant. "Where's those two inkheads, I requested for backup minutes ago!" she growled.

Behind a tree, Flow stood and waited for the octolings to leave themselves off guard while she tried to sneak up on them and dispatch them before the rest of their team arrived. She ran behind another tree closer, ready to get the jump on the octolings, in her hand was a branch, something she could use to incapacitate the duo.

At the right moment as the two were looming over Seth who was losing consciousness, Flow swung the branch behind the sergeant's head, knocking her to the ground. The corporal how ever, still stunned reacted and held her octo brush up to block Flow's attack. The octoling knocked the branch out of Flow's hand and now she was defenseless. The octoling held the brush over her ready to slam the ink weapon down on her but she froze in place and dropped the ink brush before she fell over with a knife sticking out of back.

Seth managed to grab the hidden knife out of its sheath and fling it at the octoling corporal before she could splat the sea hare that was his wife. With a breath of relief he laid back down on the ground with no energy left to even keep his eyes open.

Flow rushed over beside him and shook him as she sat him up. "Seth! SETH! WAKE UP!"

He mumbled and slowly opened his eyes. "Just...leave me (coughing),"

"I can't do that...I already left you once," she told before she picked him up and carried him over her shoulder. As they moved Seth held his side and growled in pain from his busted rib. "Sarah stop, My rib...I think it's broken," he told her. "You have to leave me, you're doing me no good trying to help me walk,"

"but they'll find you and..."

"I'll be fine...just head back and (coughing) (gasp) get the others,"

"No...I'd rather stay here with you. I'm not taking that chance,"

Just then, a saucer-shaped craft flew overhead, piloted by two other octolings. Flow and Seth hid behind a nearby tree to avoid getting spotted. "The octo tracker places them here but I don't see anything," said one of them. "Come in sergeant, respond...what's your location,"

"I got nothing," she said, getting no feed back from the sergeant. Her partner looked down for any movement but then she spotted the two octoling's bodies. "Down there!" she shouted.

"What are they doing? And where's the human,"

"We better land and investigate. Be on guard,"

The saucer landed and the two hopped out to check their teammates. The sergeant was unresponsive, lying on her stomach and a knife was sticking out of the corporal's back. "Oh shrimp, this isn't good,"

Flow pulled Seth back up and the two snuck over behind the saucer intent on using it as their means of escape. She helped Seth up and dragged him into the cockpit. As the two octolings were examining their squad mates bodies, she was pressing buttons trying to figure out how to get the disc-shaped craft into the air. She pressed a button causing the boosters to start up. this got the octolings attention. "Hey! Get out of there!" shouted one of the octolings.

Flow was panicking. She grabbed a lever and the saucer began levitating off the ground. "Stop them!" screamed the octoling. As the UFO started getting elevation the two octolings jumped on it as one of them clung to the edge of it. Flow turned the wheel in an attempt to shake them off but the octoling held on but eventually she was flung off and struck the side of tree while the other desperate clung to a metal rod on the side of saucer but her hand would slip and she fell to the ground as she screamed.

Seth coughed up blood and Flow had to get him back and quickly. He passed out as Flow panicked. It seemed operating the saucer wasn't too hard but she shimmied the UFO around, nearly hitting a tree trying to get it straightened out. The two flew down the river and were spotted by a pair of octostrikers. The two octarians saw the UFO was hijacked and piloted by the sea hare with the human beside her.

They pursued the craft and the octostrikers launched ink missiles at them, trying to shoot them down. One missile landed into the river but the second hit the wing of the saucer, damaging it. Flow tried to keep te craft straight but it jerked around and was slowly losing altitude. "Hold on Seth!" she yelled. Riding over the river she spotted an opening, a tunnel leading back down to the domes. She flew inside the dark tunnel and used the headlights to navigate through them. The octostrikers didn't chase them in the tunnel but Flow did see a light source ahead.

It was the end of the tunnel and it appeared the two were back underground and in the dome housing the town where she, the inklings and the two octolings were rescued by Mirage and her team. The UFO plummeted and Flow had no control of the saucer. It descended down, Flow grabbed Seth and the UFO skidded over one of the buildings and crashed into the town's city hall.