Splatoon Afterworld

by drz1990

Explained in the intro

10. Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Note: Sorry for the long wait you guys. I needed a break and well this is a big chapter. I put a lot into it and I hope you enjoy it. The story line is going to get a little complex but not too bad. A lot of lewdness in this chapter and drama. Lost my motivation for a little bit but I still pulled through. I haven't given up on the story just getting of tired time to time. If you have any questions or inputs just remember to leave in the comments section. Let me know what you think about the story. Still need work on my naration skills. Doing the best I can. Write n wrong if you're reading this I come continue fight for freedom. Not a lot of human splatoon stories are being put out anymore and I think the splatoon community is burning out especially when it comes to fanfictions. I was hoping ChiggerD would finish Sins of Humanity but he left to the reader to use our imaginations to continue the story. With Splatoon 3 coming out. I hope he'll craft another story. Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter.

Deep in octo valley...

It was 0600 hours. The screens outlining the dome above octo base was displaying a morning sky from outside. Down below, in the barracks. The octarians were still asleep in their bunks but that would soon get interrupted by the door getting kicked open by an octoling elite who walked in and shouted, "Rise and shine you ink bags!" in a loud commanding voice. The octolings jolted awake with some of them falling out of the beds. Hitting their heads on the floor and staring at the elite who stepped down the walkway between the bunks.

"It's 0600 hours and I want you octopi up and at attention!" the elite continued to rant. The octolings quickly got up and fell in line in front of the beds. The elite inspected them as they stood unphased at attention but further down the line up, was one octoling that was still half asleep and trying to get her bearings, catching the gaze from the elite who decided to walk down and see why the soldier wasn't at attention like the rest of them.

"Private! Is there a problem?" she asked, irritated at the young octoling who was trying to adjust her clothing who looked up at the elite's displeased expression.

"N...No ma'am...I was just getting situated," she meekly told the elite.

"Situated huh, let me tell you something private, do any of you cephalopods get time to get situated out in combat? Do the squids wait for you to get situated before they splat the living ink out of you?..." she asked the whole unit before seeing her sights back on the private.

"N...No ma'am they don't," the private nervously replied.

"Did you hear her troops! The enemy isn't courteous enough to give you time to get situated! You're boots untied, you drop your weapon... you think the enemy is going to give a clam if you need to get situated...I don't think so!" she specified to the platoon of octolings who were still at attention. The elite turned to the private who was twiddling her fingers, feeling awkward about being put on the spot. "So, fall in line with the rest of these octopi private!" she ordered the young grunt.

"Yes, ma'am!" quickly standing at attention as the elite stepped away.

"Anyone else got an issue!?" the elite turning to the unit.

"No, ma'am!" they replied in unison.

"Good, we begin PT so head out to the obstacle course, so we get started on getting you ink bags in shape. You don't wanna get squishy like those squids do you,"

"No, ma'am!" they all shouted in unison again.

"Then move out!" she ordered them, pointing toward the exit.

As the octolings headed out the door in single file the private that disrupted their routine was grabbed by the shoulder. "Hold up, private," said the elite as the octoling looked at her. "You better get your act together. One octopus messes up then everyone in the whole unit messes up. Do you understand me,"

"Yes, ma'am," putting her hands up and closing her eyes as shook at the elite's disposition.

"All it takes is one screw up and you're as good as an ink puddle private. You think the inkstains will show you mercy...they are our enemies...and won't think twice of splatting a disorganized, half-assed ink bag octopus like you. You better get your butt together or I'll get it together for you, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'am,"

"Move out to the obstacle course with your platoon on the double private," the elite commanded as the private octo formed and swam away for the course.

At the course, the octoling platoon were going their exercise routines, pull ups, push-ups, jumping jacks and other methods, but one octoling on the other hand was slacking. Just barely reaching 20 pull ups. It was the private from before and her partner was getting onto her for not keeping in shape. "Geez private...at this rate, you're going to fall out before you start the obstacle run," said the other octoling holding her feet down. The elite noticed she was lagging and shook her head, displeased with the octoling.

"Alright everyone! It's time for the obstacle course, you'll be timed, and I expect you to get through the course within 5 minutes. Fail to do that and you will redo the course over again at a reassigned time, do you understand," said the elite.

"Yes, ma'am," in unison.

"Good, everyone gets to the starting mark!" she ordered them, following the platoon to the course.

"Best of luck Vee," said one octoling with a giggle.

"Yeah, you're gonna need it," another one mocked, walking past her.

"Gee, thanks," she said depressingly as she downed her head. The octoling knew she wasn't gonna finish the course and would have to retake it again, knowing she would yet again get chewed out by the elite for not completing it on time.

The octolings grouped together at the starting point of the course. The obstacle course was rigorous, containing tires, climbing walls, crawl spaces and other tough obstructions. The elite from before stood beside them and waved her hand for the octolings to start. As soon as she did, the octolings took off leaving Vee behind, as she ran as fast as she could to try and catch up with the octolings. They hopped through the tires but as Vee tried to cross them, she fell over into one of them, picking herself up to yet again, trying to keep up with the others. When she watched them climb over the wall, Vee jumped up but fell again, trying and trying again until she was out of breath. The elite walked over and shook her head and placed her hand over her eyes. "Just go around," she snapped at Vee as she pointed for the octoling to continue down the course.

Through many more obstacles the octolings were finally finished under 5 minutes but the private on the other hand was still traversing down the course. "Hurry up private! I don't have all day!" the elite growled. The private reached the balancing beam but mid-way she slipped and fell hurting her shoulder. "Get up and keep moving you pathetic excuse of an octoling!" she shouted at the injured private.

Vee fought to get up but she was determined to finish the course and time was running out, she had less than a minute and if she couldn't complete it under the 5-minute mark then she had to do it all over again. "Hurry up! You got 30 seconds!" the elite shouted. Vee sprinted across a dug out and jumped over it, barely make it and almost falling in. "20 seconds!"

Vee could see the end, but she slid in the dirt and fell, hurting her knee this time. "10 seconds! Move it or lose it private!"

Vee got up again, but her knee was killing her. She held it as she tried to run, only to hobble halfway there. Within 15 feet, she jumped and tried to make a dive as if a baseball player trying to make it for home plate, but her hand only landed behind the finish line by 1 foot and her 5 minutes had run out. "Times up!" shouted the elite that stood over her from the other side of the finish line. "So close, yet so far private. I hate to say this, but you failed the course. Guess that means you have to take it again. Report back here at 1700 hours," said the elite as she glared at the private.

"Yes, lieutenant Luna," said the private.

The elite walked away, she was disappointed but at the same time expected Vee to fail, seeing the octoling as a wash out and disgrace to the octarian army. Vee was drafted like many others that didn't volunteer and she was very unhappy to be a soldier, forced to fight for DJ Octavio. Footsteps approached her before she could try and get up. A shadow casted over her, seeing a regular wearing her goggles over her eyes. The octoling held out her hand and aided Vee up on her feet. "Well, it looks like you'll be doing that course again private. I hate it how the lieutenant has it out for you," said the octoling.

"I hate being in the army! I have to do all this training only to get ridiculed...and for what? Why are we having to fight the inklings? Aren't the ones that stole the zapfish from them," she exclaimed.

"I'd keep that to yourself private. Questions like that will land you in the stockades...and before you ask, I'm the platoon leader, Sergeant Star," she told Vee before lifting her goggles up and waving her tentacles.

"For a sergeant you sure seem...um humble,"

"I don't let this stuff get to me. I try to stay relax but out in the field. I have to put the cheerful act away and behave like a sergeant...as for the lieutenant, believe it or not...she's not like that all the time. She's cool when she's off duty...we hang out at the bar together. She loves her liquoir. Maybe you should come hang out with us sometime," said the sergeant.

"No thanks, she wouldn't hang out with a pathetic excuse of an octopus as she put it and besides, I don't drink,"

"You don't? How do you deal with the stress?"

"I just do...look I'm tired and I just wanna get through the rest of the day without getting belittled anymore,"

"I'll see if I got talk to Luna and get her to ease down a little and then I'll see if she's ok with you hanging out off base,"

"I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but..." Vee started as she rubbed her arm.

"Just think about it...c'mon, we can just take it easy. You don't have to drink," Star told her, trying to get her spirits up as she grabbed her shoulder.

"I say it wouldn't hurt," Vee meekly told her. "Alright then...let's just head to the firing range. Maybe that'll get your mind off things," Star said.

"Yeah, me missing and that elite shouting at me like a dogfish again. Yep, that'll get my mind off having to do the obstacle course again," she said sarcastically.

The two of them headed for the firing range. The octoling platoon had gathered around on instructions of how to use their octoshots. The lieutenant holding her octoshot was schooling the platoon on how to use the weapon and gave a demonstration by firing an ink shot at a squid shaped target down the range from where they were at. "Remember to always pull the trigger once you're lined up on your target and also keep in mind to know how much ink is in your tank at all times. Dive in your ink puddles to refill and avoid the enemy ink unless you wanna make yourself squid fodder. Do you understand!" the lieutenant told them.

"Yes, ma'am!" they all shouted.

"You keeping tabs private or do I have to repeat myself," the elite looking at the private hard.

"No lieutenant, I'm listening," Vee told her.

"Good...now where was I...oh yeah, the octo shot. It has a limited range, so don't think you're gonna pick off those inkstains at longer distances. So don't go ink a blazing and deplete all your ink like some stupid squid would do. Remember to use the environment to your advantage and outsmart your prey you octopi...now pickup an octoshot and I wanna see you hit those targets,"

The octolings paired up, one would shoot until their ink had been depleted then their partner would try once they were done. Vee and Star paired up which caught the lieutenant's eye. Curious to as why her friend and drinking buddy would pair up with the private, she had it out for. "Watch me Vee," said Star. The octoling watched the sergeant aim her octo shot toward the target, coating the mock squid with her ink.

"Nothing to it...you give it a try," said Star as Vee gave a nod and walked up toward the range. Luna crossed her arms and gave a look of resentment. The elite was waiting for the private to mess up somehow, but Star had faith in Vee that she would cover the target like she did and show the lieutenant that Vee wasn't a screw up like she believed. The octoling held up the octo shot but she was nervous, and her hands caused the weapon to shake a little. "Focus, private. Take a deep breath," advised Star.

Doing as she asked, the private inhaled some air and concentrated her eyes on the squid-shaped target. "You got this," said Star. Vee pulled the trigger once she stayed on her target, striking it with a blast of ink. "Awesome job, now stay on it and finish it off," Star told her.

Vee was a little hesitant as she pulled the trigger and closing her eyes, still managing to hit the target. "Yeah, Vee. You did it, way to go," cheered Star, as she went over to give Vee a high five. The private smiled but at the same time was stunned she even had the courage to pull the trigger and hit her target. Even the lieutenant who had watched the whole time, relaxed her arms and was impressed herself. "Maybe that private is good for something after all," Luna said before walking over to the pair.

"I didn't know I had in me. Guess all I needed was some motivation. Thanks Star," Vee told her.

"Um, that's sergeant. Remember to call out by rank,"

"Oh, sorry sergeant,"

"Good job! For once..." congratulated the lieutenant as she approached the two with their backs turned.

This startled the private, not expecting the lieutenant to come out of nowhere to comment on her shooting which in turn caused Vee to pull the trigger and deplete what little was left in her tank. She shot wildly, only holding the weapon with one arm. Scattering ink shots around her. The octolings dove to the ground or tried to shield themselves. Knocking an octo shot out of the hand of one of the octolings and nearly hitting another before she dove for the ground in her octopus form.

"Is anyone hit!" shouted one of the octolings.

"I'm good,"

"That freakin' private! What an inkhead!"

Both Vee and Star turned their attention back on Luna who was agitated, seeing her eyebrow twitch and trying to hold in her discontent. "I spoke too soon...drop down and give me 30 private!" sneered the lieutenant.

"Yes, ma'am," letting go of her octo shot and dropping to the ground to do her pull ups.

"What a waste of ink. You're as good as one of those squid targets on the range," insulted the elite.

"I'm sick of this! If I'm such a bad soldier then why don't you..." Vee shot back, standing up and confronting the lieutenant.

"Private stand down! I'll handle this," said Star as she got between the two before things would escalate. "Lieutenant, permission to speak,"

"Permission granted sergeant,"

"Cut her some slack. She's still a grunt,"

"Slack, you want me to cut this octopus some slack...will those inkstains on the surface will cut you any slack? If she gets splatted I don't wanna hear about sergeant,"

"That's why I'd like to request that you put her under my wing. I'll get her in shape to fight the squids in a week. I know she's squishy, but she's got potential," said Star.

"Squishy!? Hey...I'm not that bad," objected the private.

"Anyways, what do you say lieutenant,"

"(growl) You have a week...but if she doesn't make the cut. She's kicked out of the army and will be forced into exile... I hope you know what you're doing Star,"

"I do. She's a special case. I can tell...and something else I wanted to bring up,"

Vee saw the two were whisper amongst each other as the octoling group shook their heads, displeased with Vee for her negligent actions a moment ago. "Octo-klutz" popped off one of the octoling regulars. The private rubbed her arm, feeling shameful before Star and Luna set their attention back on Vee. She could see the lieutenant was displeased with her arms crossed but Luna had a smile on her face. "Private, come here...everyone else is dismissed," said Luna.

Vee was not anxious to hear what the elite had in store for her but to hear that the sergeant was going to take her in was both unexpected and relieving. "But heed this warning private. You fail again and you're gone and I don't mean in a good way," said Luna. "Also, the sergeant has requested something else out of you since the sergeant here is urging me to incline...(deep breath) Later, once we're off duty would you like to...hang out," Luna told her with little enthusiasm.

"You're asking me?" Vee was stunned that the elite would even consider hanging out with her.

"As the sergeant puts it, she feels that I may have been a little rough on you. I don't take my job lightly to no one and you have shown how pathetic..." Luna started to say but Star gave her a look, causing Luna to rethink her wording. "The sergeant has requested that you be placed on a special training assignment. She says you have potential...and I hope she's right for your sake. You two are dismissed and now if you'll excuse me. I have some important matters to deal with," said the lieutenant, as she placed her goggles back over her eyes and octo formed as she shot away.

"Important matters?" said Vee.

"Stress relief...that flask of hers is calling," said Star as Vee gave her a confused expression. "Look, I'm doing you a favor and don't think I'm going to be easy on you for taking you in. I gotta get you in shape like Luna wants and if I can't do that, then well...you heard her. Exile," said Star.

"Exile!...but I don't wanna get kicked out of octo valley. Oh squid, what did I get into. My life might as well be ruined," she fretted as she covered her eyes wanting to cry.

"Vee, don't throw in the towel just yet. You have a week and I think you can do it. I even placed a wager on it. That I'll show Luna that you can pass your training. She pays the tab for both of our drinks for a week at the bar and vice versa if you fail,"

"You placed a bet on me knowing my life is at stake. What kind of friend are you?"

"The kind of friend that's gonna make sure that doesn't happen to you and that I don't have to pay the bill for Luna's alcohol binge. Trust me, you're gonna do great. I can tell,"

"Are you just trying to make me feel better,"

"Well, I'm trying to make us both feel better,"

"That makes me feel really confident,"

"See an attitude like that will get you nowhere. You just gotta keep your head up and stay focused...like me for example,"

"Yeah, and then I could start placing wagers on my friends...if I had any," Vee said as she downed her head.

"Well, I'm your friend now and I say you got this in the bag. We start first thing in the morning," said Star grabbing Vee and pulling her beside her body, though the young private was pessimistic about her situation.

Meanwhile, in a small building just outside the barracks was Luna's office. Inside was a desk, chairs for anyone that was sent to her office. Filing cabinets, posters, her bunk and toward the back were two doors. One going into the bathroom and the other a closet where her uniforms were stored but behind the bathroom door were some noises and muttering could be heard as well. Luna was sitting on the commode, chugging down on a stainless flask.

"Oh, I needed that buzz..." Luna said as she wiped her mouth. "(deep sigh) I can't believe I agreed to that. Letting Star have that private, but I couldn't pass up free drinks that she'll have to shell out for when that octoling fails the course. That octopus is a lost cause, she probably got pulled out of one of the outer domes. A farm girl or something...a waste of ink if you ask me," said the smug elite.

Luna took another swing when all of a sudden. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! "Hey Luna! You done playing with yourself!?" shouted a voice from the other side of the door. Luna spit out the seawater whiskey and coughed, not expecting someone in front of the bathroom.

"Who wants to know!" Luna shouted back.

"Umm, lieutenant Nova, that's who you smart ass octopus,"

"Oh great, it's octowinch...wonder what she wants now,"

"I heard that! Get your butt out here...and that flask better not be in your hand,"

"Shut up!" growled Luna, hiding the silver flask behind the commode before she walked out of the bathroom. Outside was another elite but she was wearing a red beret with a gold octopus sigil pinned to it and her armor was red, signifying she was one of the royal guards, assigned to protect DJ Octavio and a moderator to root out defectors or any slander against their ruler among the ranks. "I can smell your shame from here lieutenant...the same shame you had when you were cut from the royal guard you hotshot octopus," sneered Nova. Watching Luna walk out of the bathroom with a glare on her face.

"Oh, bite me you octo hag. What are doing here anyway? Don't you have a job to do like um...rambling that beak of yours to everyone else in this inkhole. Yep, I really miss being a royal tattle-teller and a royal pain in the tentacle like you,"

"Keep taunting me Luna, at least I'm not babysitting these ink bags every day and getting my hands dirty...and dirty is right...," the elite continued to scoff with a grin on her face.

"Go get splatted Nova!"

"You first...let's get the pleasantries behind us and talk about the matters at hand,"

"What do you want to talk about?" snapped Luna as she plopped behind her desk.

"What I want to discuss is that Octavio is pushing for the octolings to get deployed by tomorrow. A lone squidbeak agent as the report has called them is pushing past our trooper defenses. We're setting up countermeasures but what I've been hearing I'm sure that will not stop them,"

"You mean to tell me one squid is pushing through our perimeter. Those dumb tentacles couldn't repel a sea snail let alone some inkstain that thinks they can come down here and take back the zapfishs. I think the DJ is overreacting,"

"I wouldn't take this so lightly or criticize Octavio. He didn't think this a serious issue, until now. As I said I want these octolings ready by the morning because right now their sending more troopers even some octobombers to try and stop this so-called agent,"

"These octopi have only trained for over a week and now you expect them to be sent out to the field. I think it's a bad move and the reports are inaccurate. There's no way some squid made it down here and if they did, it would be nothing to send some more troopers to just deal with them,"

"Enough! You got your orders lieutenant! Or is that a problem, that air-filled head off yours having a hard time processing this or do I need to send a request that you be demoted and reassigned if you can't do something as simple as following a direct over from Octavio himself,"

"Fine Nova! I'll gather the octopi up and inform them of the situation if that'll make you and the big lummox happy,"

"You better show Octavio respect...I''ll pretend you didn't say that. See that they're notified. I'm outta here lieutenant...oh, and another thing...there's a remedy for that condition you have," said Nova as she turned away to leave.

"Condition? What condition?"

"Foot in mouth disease, might I suggest you keep that beak of yours closed at all times," she said snidely as she walked off laughing, slamming the door behind her leaving Luna ticked off.

"(growling) I'll give her a condition. Hand in mouth disease. My fist down her throat...now who's the smart ass," scoffed Luna.

Over the next few hours, the octolings were gathered around and were addressed with the current situation about the squidbeak agent who had been sent to take back the zapfish. The octolings trained as much as they could within a day before they would get deployed the next morning but when Star and Vee learned about what had happened. This put a damper on things. Star would no longer train Vee but instead the private was pushed like everyone else in her platoon. Seeing no signs of improving, Luna held Vee back at base while the rest would get sent to the other domes to stop the squid beak agent. Vee was reassigned along with the reservists that would stay back and defend octo base if the agent were to make it there. The private wasn't sure if she would ever see Star again or Luna, the lieutenant that frowned upon her. As a couple days passed it wouldn't be too much longer until the squidbeak agent 3 would appear and take down octo base and soon Octavio himself.

After the squidbeak agent's battle with Octavio had ended, Vee wandered around the base, seeing no signs of life but ink puddles scattered about. How could an inkling take down a whole entire army? Vee shouted for any survivors but had no luck. It wouldn't be much longer until she stumbled across a figure with their back turned. She rushed over to see who they were standing and holding an ink based weapon ahead of them only to see it wasn't an octoling as they turned their head and looked at them. It was the squidbeak agent 3.

Vee's eyes widened and she froze in place, shaking in fear, worried the inkling was going to splat her. They raised their weapon and aimed at the terrified octoling. Vee stepped back but tripped on an octo shot laying on the ground. She went to grab it but was now staring at the end of the squidbeak agent's weapon, waiting for Vee to make a move. The private moved her hand away from the octo shot and stared at the inkling, pleading with her life. Then the agent remembered something someone once told her. A voice in her head reminding her to be merciful and for her to try and seek peace with the octolings but she shook it off as she stepped away and got her hero shot off the octoling before squid forming and jetting off.

Vee fainted, thinking it was her last moment on Earth. A few hours later, the octoling was awoken by someone tugging on her. "Hey...hey! You alive...wake up!" a voice shouted. Vee mumbled and sat up, looking at a new figure looking over her. "So you are alive," said an elite staring at her with her goggles still covering her eyes.

"Huh, what happened?" said Vee. She examined the elite that was staring at her. The private noticed she was wearing red armor and red beret with the kelp stalks attached to her head. It was then she knew the elite was a royal guard, a highly trained and hardened soldier but what was she doing out here and not with Octavio, providing his security?

"It's over...we lose. Octavio has been apprehended and the great zapfish as been returned. We have to leave right now. What's your callsign? What unit are you with?" she asked Vee sternly.

"Callsign? I...umm,"

"Never mind, let's move out," said the elite as she helped Vee up.

"Where are we going?" She asked tailing the elite.

"The surface,"

"The surface! But that's...inkling territory. Why are we going there?"

"Because without the zapfish we won't be able to survive down here,"

As the two of them started to leave the base. A tune popped up in Vee's head, it was faint, but she had never heard anything like it until it went away. The voices sounded like inkling dialect, but they were singing.

"It's odd. I remember this song playing in my head. It was melodic if not hypnotizing...I felt strange after that, even though I was passed out," said the private. The elite didn't comment on what she told her but kept walking.

"I assumed you were dead but then I saw that you were breathing,"

"I'm Vee by the way...what's your name if you don't mind me asking," Vee walking up beside the elite.

"Oscar Lima one six niner echo. Lieutenant Mirage, Commander of the octarian royal guard. I was assigned to defend Octavio but that squidbeak agent caught us off guard. She was highly trained even for us elites. We were unable to stop her and then these two other squid show up, singing come to think of it in some kind of attire like what that agent was wearing. You mentioned singing and feeling strange. I recalled back at Octavio's lair, we were going to try and attack the inklings before they could reach Octavio but once they started singing, my body just froze. Something stopped me and then I watched Octavio's defeat. I was awestruck that he was subdued even with the octobot king and by one lowly squid and that I was unable to stop them. When I came to my senses the other guards had vanished and so did Octavio and those inklings. I left and returned to octo base. I didn't think anyone was alive and that's when a saw your body lying on the ground,"

"Octavio was defeated...that can't be,"

"I couldn't believe it either...but I saw it for myself. Why couldn't I have stopped it?" said the lieutenant as she stopped and clinched her fists.

"It'll be OK, someone once told be me to keep my head up and that things would get better,"

"I'm not in the mood for any kind of motivational speaking. We just need to get out of here before the systems start shutting down,"

The two of them octoformed and fled the base. Traversing through multiple domes to see if anyone had survived, unknown to them the slain octarians were alive and had respawned back at the base but the real question was where did they go? The song from the inklings had a mesmerizing effect that broke their influence by the hypnowaves installed by their leader, DJ Octavio. The multitude that were affected saw that with Octavio gone, making them leaderless. They had to turn to a new leader or leave the valley completely. Overtime, 1/3 of the octarian population left the valley and stumbled across something that would change their lives. Their scouts discovered a place called the deepsea metro and it was there they would establish a new home and new leader. Tartar, an AI constructed by humans long ago, who would sanitize the octarians that would be under its control.

Another 1/3 of the octarian population made due with what they could, trying to run their society without Octavio but this proved a problem. The domes were slowly powering down and resources were dwindling. The octarians got together and decided to send scouts to the surface to gather up resources and see if they could establish their own colony up above, only to find Octavio being held in a giant snowglobe. Seeing their opportunity, they freed him and brought him back to Octo Valley. The giant octopus DJ formulated a plan and reassembled his army to steal the great zapfish again and they succeeded and reformed the octarian empire in a place called Octo Canyon.

The last 1/3 had scattered around and tried to escape for the surface. Half of them did manage to reach the surface and headed toward inkling territory where they blended in with the inklings unnoticed while the other half formed the defectors. They would splinter off over time. Some trying to survive and others looking for a way back to octo canyon to rejoin the army under Octavio. After Octavio's second defeat, Scarlet, Octavio's granddaughter took the reign to become the new octarian leader. Through charisma and intelligence she had managed to gain popularity rather quickly and lead the octarians back to octo valley to reestablish octarian society again...and they succeeded. They used what zapfish they had and the octarian researchers created means to recycle the zapfish energy to power the domes but setbacks soon surfaced. Not having the energy to power up all the domes, everything was rerouted back to the valley. The canyon octarians evacuated and left back for octo valley. There were routine surges and eventually Scarlet held a conference with the other officers and delegates to see how they could address their problem. With Octavio gone, Scarlet could form a peace treaty with the inklings. The octarians were very skeptical that she would extend an olive branch to their natural enemies, but she told them this was nothing but a facade, a fake truce to get the inklings to give them zapfish in trade for their octo tech and ensure they would never attack them being the octarian army was larger than theirs and more advance. It worked and the inklings were unaware that the octarians used this as nothing but a ploy to power up their domes and mass produce their great octoweapons again but in Scarlet's eyes, after the incidents with the squidbeak agents being able to defeat their army and leader. This wasn't enough so they needed a secret weapon, a weapon that the squidbeak agents couldn't defeat and that was bringing the humans back.

Scarlet was fascinated with the human race, their technology, their biology, culture, weapons...she would yearn to meet one and yet again her leadership was skeptical, but she reasoned with them to why she wanted to do this but still were undeterred by her goals about the humans. Meanwhile, deeper in the valley, the octarians that never rejoined were still trying to survive. Two octolings, Vee and Mirage, former soldiers had come across two other soldiers and two characters Vee would never think to see again. Lieutenant Luna and her friend sergeant Star. Star was more than happy to see Vee again and Luna with their current circumstances apologized to Vee for how she treated her and two became friends as well. The four of them told their stories to each other and Mirage became their squad leader due to her experience and demeanor though Luna wished she could've become the leader and eventually got over it. Scarlet, now general. Soon learning about the remaining octolings which became the defectors as more of them tried to escape Scarlet's influence. The general amassed her forces and sent her troops to hunt down these defectors to kill or capture them to reassimilate them back into the army.

Current time now...

It was mourning, the next day... deep inside octo valley at octo base. Down a metallic corridor, with octolings mingling about and a couple of troopers scurrying down the hallway, an octopus slid between their scooters as the two troopers watched the octopus change forms and run toward the opposite direction they were going.

The elite was dashing for the large metal doors at the end of the hallway which were guarded by the octarian royal guard. They spotted the approaching elite and stopped her. Blocking her path as they held up their octo brushes. "Halt! What's your business!" demanded the lead guard. He was donning a samurai helmet and red neo octarian armor, red thigh plates and red gloves like the others.

"I'm the commander of the octo canyon quick reaction force west sector. I need to speak with the general right away," she told the royal guardsmen.

"The general is in a meeting right now. I would suggest you wait," the lead guard told her.

"This is of the utmost importance. I have valuable intel she's gonna want to hear,"

"It can wait, so back off," the guard shoved her away.

"Back off...you better know who you're talking to inkhead,"

Just as the lead guard was about get in a confrontation with the elite the doors came open and the royal guardsmen quickly stood against the wall and gave a salute. The general had just stepped out alongside her second-in-command, Colonel Spectra. An elite octoling with large dropping tentacles, laid down in the back with a black beret on top of her head. Her eyes were covered with neo octarian goggles and her armor was black. She was also the leader of the octoling commandos.

"This is unacceptable! To hear that the octoweapons factory has been destroyed by a bunch of lowly defectors. I will not have it; this could set us back days if not weeks before the invasion!" ranted the angered general.

"I can assure we'll root out these traitors and pull them up by their tentacles before they would ever decide to attack us again. I was sure that lieutenant Nova would handle a simple job of securing the factory and ensuring nothing hinders our goals, but I guess I was wrong," replied Spectra.

"See that something is done about this. I don't want word getting out that the plant was sabotaged over some rag tag unit of turncoats, and I want that lieutenant to answer for failing her assignment,"

"Excuse me...my general," the elite interrupted who was trying to reach the general. Scarlet turned her head and set her sights on the octoling in front her.

"What is it now, more good news," Scarlet said starkly.

"Speak before the general," said Spectra.

"Yes, well...I have valuable intel you may want to hear. It seems that the humans may not be extinct as we thought...we've managed to capture a human found in octorock quarry after he attacked the octarian unit occupying the mines and defeating the octostomp," she told them.

"A human? Alive, in our territory...that's impossible, is this some kind of joke because I'm not laughing," said Scarlet who was getting agitated.

"No, general. I can assure you that there is a real living human in octo canyon. They were accompanying an inkling girl," she told her, but the general was having a tough time believing the news.

"you tell me there's a human, alive that defeated one of our octoweapons and now you mention an inkling. What do you take me for, where's the proof? You've said you caught them,"

"We did but...he managed to escape and slipped away somewhere on the surface," she revealed hesitantly.

"You...let a human slip from your grasp. I'm not sure whether to be mad because you allowed a human to get away or if this story is even credible at all, making it a waste of my time," Scarlet scolded making the elite feel lowly.

"General Scarlet, I only came here to inform you about this because I know how vital this human could be to you and our objective. My unit has been searching the area all night. I've lost two soldiers; a saucer has been taken and I have two octostrikers reporting to me that the human and an unknown person were seen leaving the area and heading back to the domes via one of the access tunnels. It means the human is still in octarian territory given us a chance to apprehend him again,"

"You make sure you have him in custody this time lieutenant, if this human does exist I want him brought back to octo base alive. You better not fail me," the general told her.

"Right away, general," saluted the lieutenant as she octoformed away.

"Do you honestly expect her to fall through with that order, if that human really exist that is," said Spectra.

"That's why I need you to stick around and monitor things while I head back to the royal palace and pay someone a little visit. If this human does exist like she says then we can't afford any mishaps from that negligent lieutenant. Make sure she doesn't botch things up,"

"Yes, general,"

As the general left, Colonel Spectra headed back to octo command to see if any reports came up on the octoweapons factory attack and to keep track of the lieutenant as per requested from Scarlet. Octo command was the main hub of octo base. A large chamber consisting of a large floating platform that suspended over a lower floor, accessible by a disc shaped elevator. Clusters of thick wires supplied the generators underneath the hovering hub to power computer terminals and monitors. LED lighting lined the dome structure around the platform giving off a limited amount of light and speakers were also built into the walls. As a matter of fact, this was Octavio's lair during his battle with agent 3 years ago but had been renovated to be used as a command station for the new octarian army.

The colonel approached the elevator, looking up at the large hovering platform that was octo command. Octobombers and octocopters hovered around the arena-shaped station as octosnipers provided security overhead on their own floating platforms. Spectra walked on the elevator causing it to ascend in a spiral-like movement before it could reach the top. It was there she was greeted by the octo command staff.

"Colonel, how did the meeting go?" asked one the regulars which earned her a displeased expression from the elite.

"It could've gone better. That Scarlet, she can be so stubborn just like her grandfather. Instead of reprioritizing our efforts for the loss of the octoweapons factory. She is fixated on bringing the humans back for this unstoppable army of Her's. All efforts by those scientists have been nothing but failures and even if we did manage to clone the humans. What's to say we'll be able to control them or fearing they may turn on us in the process. Scarlet had better reassess her strategy," criticized the colonel.

"Seems you're not pleased with the general's handling of the situation," said another octoling.

"I'm not but... she is the general. I won't dare question her decision making and neither should any of you. I've been informed recently that their may be a human presense in octo canyon, it can't be verified," said Spectra.

"A human?"

"So that lieutenant says. I'm not sure whether to believe it or not but per orders from Scarlet. We need to track her, she's the commander of the QRF of the west sector of octo canyon. Monitor radio traffic and movement of the lieutenant and her unit. If this human does exist then we need it captured...they could pose a serious threat and we would need to acquire their DNA,"

"If there is a human in the canyon, what would this mean colonel? I mean humans are extinct and the general takes a great fascination for this race...not sure why though,"

"I don't either, yes they did leave behind their advance technology but other than that we don't know what else they are capable of. I would rather catch a live human to learn about it and find a weakness before Scarlet pushes this unsplattable army even if the researchers don't have the capabilities to do such a thing,"

"I wonder what we could learn from them?" asked the octoling curiously.

"For a race with such advance technology couldn't have been that smart to go extinct. I prefer them to stay fossilized," implied Spectra.

After a few minutes, the octolings left for their posts and Spectra returned to her station to monitor troop activity, remembering to keep a close surveillance on the lieutenant that lost the human. Soon she had received a transmission from the commando unit sent to go apprehend the scientist, Velma. "Captain Sable to octo command, come in," the octoling commando called out over the radio.

"This is colonel Spectra, report captain, do you have the target with you?"

"Negative...the scientist is dead,"

"Dead! How did this happen!? Explain yourself," Spectra yelled as she stomped her boot angrily.

"Colonel, I had no choice...she stabbed me while my back was turned and reflexes caused me to pull the trigger, but we did bring something else that would be of great interest to the general,"

"You're telling me you shoot the scientist who Scarlet requested for capture and also was withholding vital intel about the defector's base and now you tell me that you have something in your possession that was more important than that AWOL researcher, I'm listening,"

"We have discovered that the defector's base is some kind of facility housing humans and technology we could only dream of. We've seen these humans inside what appears to metallic pod-based machines. This location has been marked and contains technology so advance that we couldn't begin to comprehend how humans have managed to preserve themselves for such a prolonged period of time. As a matter of fact, we have one human in our custody as we speak but they are unresponsive at this time,"

"You have a human in custody!?"

"Well, yes but there's something you must know colonel...it appears that this human is well, changing...into an...octoling as insane as this sounds,"

"An...octoling?"

"You'll have to see for yourself, I don't know how else to explain it. We should be at base in 15 to 20 minutes. That scientist told us that she believes this human is transforming into one of us but wasn't sure why, something to do with a possible connection with us and the humans,"

"I wanna see this human but we'll keep under the radar with the general. This is glorious news but also unsettling to know that the defectors are sitting on top of a stockpile of advance technology and these dormant humans. We have to take this facility before the defectors formulate an upper hand against us. With them having access to this equipment we can't be sure what they may use and if they ever manage to align the humans with them to try and defeat us. They've already destroyed the octoweapons factory...we can't take any chances. Report to me once you've made it back to base,"

"Understood, colonel. We'll be there momentarily,"

The colonel was thinking what their next move would be. She waited for the commandos to return, and it was then when they dismounted out of the octoseeker once they touched down to see the changing human strapped to a stretcher. Spectra along with her security approached the elite unit and the human that caught their eyes. "Colonel, what's your next order?" asked the captain from the commando unit as her team was carrying the human out of the octoseeker.

"Bring the human to the research lab so the scientists can study it," Spectra told her. The colonel walked over and noticed the tentacles on the human's head. "So, you were right. This human is changing but how can this be?" said the elite. "If only that scientist were here with us. She could explains things," Spectra shooting the captain a glare.

The captain didn't reply to the dirty look but led her team to take the human to the research lab. Once they had gotten there, the octarian scientists were speechless at what the commandos had brought as they laid the human down on the floor. "This is...beyond astonishing. How in the shell did you come across such a preserved specimen?" asked the anxious scientist Silas. He looked at the human but an expression of excitement dwindled down to confusion and bewilderment, seeing the tentacles protruding from the human soldier's head. "Wait...is this really a human. Humans don't have tentacles or least I don't think," said Silas as the other scientists came over to look.

"That researcher Velma mentioned something about the human transforming into an octoling like us but I can't see how that's even possible," said the captain.

"Velma, you've spoken to her. Where is she? Is she here, back at the base?"

"...She's dead...but she brought that upon herself," answered the captain.

"D...D...Dead...no she can't be..."

"She is...she chose to bring upon her own undoing when she resisted to come back to octo base,"

"So you killed her in cold ink...she was just a scientist like me! She couldn't have posed you a threat!"

"Drop it egghead! You have a new project and that's studying this human. The colonel doesn't want Scarlet knowing about its existence. Just do what you do and find out what makes this human tick and it's weaknesses. Got it,"

"I would tell you to go soak your head in..." Silas started to pop off to the elite but was cut off by his assistant before the captain would hurt him.

"Silas enough...there's nothing more we can do. Velma...she's gone and she would want you to continue work on the human DNA experiments. Don't make things harder than they already are," his assistant told him.

"You're right...let's get this human on an examination table and we'll begin analyzing it," said Silas. He turned and looked hard at the commando leader. "I won't forget what you did to Velma,"

"Yeah, whatever octopus," she scoffed before leaving the lab.

Silas walked off with his assistant to go study the human. Captain Sable thought about how Silas acted and wanted to say more and exert her authority to the crossed octoling scientist but then realized he wasn't worth her breath and left with the rest of her unit out of the research lab.

Once Donovan had been placed on the table, the scientists were ready to study him, curious as to why the human was turning into an octoling. "What should we do first," one female scientist asked Silas who she could clearly tell his mind was wrapped around the loss of Velma. "Silas..." getting his attention.

"I'm sorry I...can't get over Velma being gone. She was the closest thing I had to friend. It's going to be hard to continue this project without her. My only suggestion is we go ahead and disrobe the specimen. By what I can tell their anatomy seems very much like ours besides the skeletal system that supports its body," said Silas.

"Two scientist removed Donovan's shirt by sitting him up and pulling his tank off. "One heartbeat...it appears humans only have one heart. I'm curious about the stamina of a human and how it's managed to make it for such a long period since it's race has been long extinct. I'd love to dissect it but with a living specimen like this I wouldn't consider it. Wonder how long it's been out?"

Silas opened the human's mouth and saw his black beak, unlike his, Donovan's was black instead of white which was also odd. "I guess we might as well see if it's a male or female," he told the scientists. They nodded and started undoing his pants but before they could Donovan's eyes slowly opened. He looked around and saw he was somewhere unknown before he spotted the octolings standing and looking at him. "What's going on?" he said weakly.

The scientists froze at his voice and saw he was no longer unconscious but now awake but lethargic for being out for so long. "Umm, Silas...the human, it's awake," said the female assistant.

"I can see that...umm, hello," replied Silas to the human. Donovan slowly sat up and groaned before shaking his head and staring at the octolings. "Where am I now? I remember being in some room. I see this...girl with an octopus on her head and now I'm seeing more of you things," he told the octolings.

"Girl?...you must've been referring to Velma. We were told she made contact with a human. Are you really a human?" asked Silas.

"What else could I be...tell me this is just another bad dream. This is getting real old," he said holding his head.

"Umm, this isn't a dream human. We're real and for us it's hard to believe you're real. My name is Silas, and this is my research team,"

"Research team? Am I still back at that damn facility? Is this some kind of gag or drug induced hallucination. Because I don't think this is funny one bit and why does my voice sound so different?"

"We're surprised you're even speaking to us since we can understand each other. We assumed humans spoke in a different language. This is amazing to say the least that a human can speak octarian. I wonder what other surprises you have human,"

"Look here you octopus dude. I don't have time for games, and I certainly don't have time to stick around," said Donovan but as he started to get off the table, he didn't realize his pants were undone and fell off, revealing himself to the group. "Well...you're a male that's for sure," said Silas. The females were a astounded and blushed a little, some even turning their heads away. "Huh, what the..." Donovan said as he quickly pulled up his cargo pants and fastened them. "What the hell were you freaks doing!? Give me one good reason I shouldn't kick your asses for this!" he raved at them.

"Uh...because this is a heavily guarded facility and if you pose any hostility to us then I will alert the soldiers to come and restrain you and you wouldn't want that," Silas told him.

"Heavily guarded. I must be back at that facility then. Where else could I be but...that doesn't explain you creatures. What's really going on?" asked Donovan sternly as he held up his pants.

"You're probably experiencing mania. You don't know where you're at or what's going on. To simplify things, you were brought here. If you don't realize, you're the only human left...so far that is and we're quite ecstatic about your existence since humans were wiped out some time ago and all we've come across are fossils. Dead remains of your race you see,"

"I can't help but think I've been told this already. Something about our extinction and some octopus people taking our place...is that it,"

"Well, yes in the simplest terms. Might I suggest that you just sit down, and we can explain things more to you,"

"I'm having a hard time taking this all in. I can't seriously be the last of my kind,"

Oh, another thing. Not to change the subject but...we're confused as to why there are tentacles on your head and you also have a beak like ours but it's black, I want to know why that is. Can you tell us why?"

"I don't know. How's that an answer for you...that girl in the lab coat asked me the same thing and I gave her the same explanation,"

"I wish I knew about your race besides that they were highly intelligent. Where did you come from and how have you been alive for so long?"

"Why should I answer any more of your questions? I had a normal life before I was stuffed in freakin' tin can. My family is dead along with humanity and now I'm turning into some kind of octopus thing or whatever you call yourselves. I won't be made some kind of freak show or experiment you can prod or play with,"

"Inform the security personnel. I don't want the human to try and escape. He seems pretty distraught and if desperate enough he may attack us," Silas whispered to his assistant. She nodded and went to a radio, but Donovan noticed the octolings were up to something. "Listen human. We don't wanna hurt you. We just wanna learn about your race," Silas tried to reason as she slowly approached Donovan.

"Back up octo freak! I know you're up to something and I'm not sticking around to find out even if this place is well guarded. I'll take my chances,"

"Be reasonable. You don't have to do this,"

"I said get away from me!"

The lab doors were slammed open and in stormed a contingent of troopers and octoling soldiers, aiming their weapons at Donovan. "Don't move!" shouted one of the octoling guards. Donovan looking at their octo shots gave them a smug expression. "Cute toys...is that supposed to intimidate me?" scoffed the human.

The octolings growled and clutched their octoshots. "Stay where you are unless you wanna get face full of ink freak!"

"Freak! Who you calling a freak you octopus-headed piss ants. My boots would be a deadly weapon than those squirt guns you got in your hands. Go ahead and shoot me,"

"As you wish," The octoling obliged by his request and shot Donovan in the shoulder causing him to jerk back.

"Gah! What the...that actually stung, what is this crap!?...and why is my shoulder turning numb?" jeered Donovan as he held his shoulder. The effects of the ink were reacting to his body, he was concerned now that these creatures had the ability to incapacitate him, underestimating their abilities with their weapons and short stature. "Why you little octo-shits. Consider your asses calamari... SPLAT!" Donovan growled at them before he was shot in the face as he fell back.

"Warned you were gonna get a face full of ink. Get this human somewhere it can be isolated and secured," ordered the octoling. They gathered up Donovan who was filling the full effects of the ink as he was coughing it out of his mouth. Unable to resist, Donavan was dragged to a glass confinement where he wouldn't be able to pose a threat to the lab personnel. The glass room was locked as the octolings came out. After a moment, the effects of the ink were dissipating, allowing him to wipe his face and slowly stand back up.

"I'm sorry you've put yourself in this predicament human, but you've left me no other option," said Silas as he approached the glass room.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE YOU MISERABLE SLUG!" demanded Donavan as he pounded on the glass and rammed his body into it. The glass was thick and reinforced. Escape was denied for the human captive. After many attempts, out of breath he walked over and sat on a bed as he gave Silas and the scientists a hateful glare. "He seems uncompliant, maybe we should just put him down and dissect him. That looks like the easiest option to retrieve his DNA," said one of the researchers.

"No! I want him kept alive. Killing an extinct creature like him would be thoughtless. I say we give him time to adjust and maybe we can communicate with him," insisted Silas.

"I hope you're right Silas, right now he poses a serious threat as unstable as the human is,"

"Being the only human around knowing your race is dead and now among a species that he's unfamiliar with. How would you act?"

"You have a fair point...(sigh) but still,"

"Scarlet would want this human alive anyway. As of now he's being held in captivity though the colonel would like his existence to remain a secret from the general. Not sure why?"

Back at the facility...

It was nearing noon. Mirage along with the rest of the octolings and the tentacle posse they helped break free from the octoweapons factory had finally arrived at the facility. Not wanting to walk anymore. The octolings were ready to collapse from being pushed by the elite without any breathers and were still suffering from their headache-inducing hangovers. It was a long march from the town to the entrance of the facility.

Not wanting to go anymore, some of the octoling's with Maxine's unit sat on the ground or were fighting the urge to puke. "Shake a tentacle! We're nearly there...well a couple of more steps and we'll be in the elevator," barked Mirage.

"C'mon lieutenant, at least give us 5 minutes," pleaded Melony.

"I guess you octopi deserve a break, very well. Then we're heading down, and we can begin our rigorous PT to get you cephalopods back into shape and sobered up,"

"This is bull shrimp! You were drinking too," whined Luna.

"And you don't see me complaining,"

"How the shell are so spritely instead of groggy like the rest of us?"

"By staying focused on the objective. Yeah, my head hurts but I'm not gonna keep that from hindering my determination. You could learn a thing or two lieutenant,"

"Hpmf... I don't need your lecturing. My mind is as sharp as a knife. I'm just not gonna waste such potential to try and get myself over a hangover. That's what effervescents are for, which by the way I'll be glad when we get down there and I can grab a hand full at the medical bay," said Luna.

"Oh no you're not Luna. I've got a more effective remedy for that. You're not taking the easy way out while everyone else has to suffer. It was your idea to get everyone drunk and you can take the full blunt of the punishment," snapped Mirage.

Luna growled which gave her a glare by Mirage with the goggles over her face. She stormed off for the elevator and crossed her arms. "Let's just get this over with then," brooded Luna, not anxious about what Mirage as well as for the others would have to endure by her commander back inside the facility.

After ten minutes, the unit found itself in the atrium of the complex. Melony and her sister's unit were beyond impressed and couldn't believe Mirage and her team stumbled across a place like this. The twintacle and gang of non-octolings were awestruck themselves and were startled when they spotted the skeletons laying across the facility.

"So, what exactly is this place?" asked Melony.

"It was built by humans. Seth explained to me this facility was some kind of research center for his race to escape their extinction. There are other humans besides him, still frozen in those metal capsules deeper in the facility. I was at a loss of words when I first came here...I couldn't believe the stuff I came across and the fact that humans tried to freeze themselves in time so they wouldn't end up like the rest of their kind," explained Mirage.

"Speaking of human, the one I seen back in town that was talking to you and your private. I'm assuming that's how he survived this whole time. He was frozen in some tin can and you also mentioned he was a part of your squad before? You two seemed close by how you were talking to him," said Melony.

"Seth... he's still trying to get adjusted to this world. You have to remember, he's a human, his species is extinct and when he woke up, he couldn't remember too much from what happened before he was stuffed in that machine. He told me what he could recall some stuff before he went to sleep and then he brought up his family. Come to find out they went missing sometime while he was still frozen and now, he just found out that sea hare that was with your sister and the inklings is his wife. I'm not sure how that's even possible and I'm still having a hard time believing it,"

"His...wife? What's that?"

"A mate in human terms,"

"Mate!? He's a human and she's..."

"Why do you think I'm struggling to find this credible... but I could tell Seth was sincere and so was that sea hare,"

"Not to drop the subject but I need to locate Maxine. You said she was here,"

"She is...somewhere,"

"If you don't mind lieutenant, I'd like to go see her. I can only assume she thinks I might be dead and I wanna show her that I'm not,"

"Go ahead, just be back here when you're done," said Mirage, letting Melony leave the atrium to hunt for her sister Maxine.

"Oh I gotta go too and um..." said Luna trying to be sneaky and avoid her "punishment".

"Don't think you're slipping out of this Luna. I would take this time to reflect on your decisions. Speaking of which, I need to talk to Seth,"

"You trying to ask him for a one-night stand?" asked a cocky Luna which gave her a punch in the shoulder by the agitated Mirage.

"Ow! Hey what was that for," she whined, rubbing her arm.

"For opening that beak of yours. That's why, because next time that's where my fist is going," Mirage threatened as she left the atrium. Luna threw her a gesture as the elite was walking away. Star walked beside Luna and tapped her on the shoulder.

"What?" replied the irritated lieutenant.

"You know she's right," said Star.

"About,"

"You causing problems,"

"I'm a magnet for problems. You should know that and it's not like I twisted anyone's tentacle to go get wasted. It's not my fault they can't handle their liquor. I didn't force that ale down their throats,"

"Yeah, but you got us in trouble you elite," said one octoling from Maxine's unit. Giving the elite a look of displeasure. The others came up behind her and were also dissatisfied with Luna's actions. "What!? You think it's my fault you all got intoxicated. Think again, I can't help it that you're all lightweights," scoffed Luna as she crossed her arms.

"Look who's talking, you were passed out like the rest of us getting all cozy with your squad mate right there," pointed out another octoling. Star blushed as Luna turned her face away from the crowd.

"Yeah, if you hadn't brought booze up we wouldn't be in this predicament. Am I right girls," said another octoling in which the rest of them nodded and agreed.

"Well it looks like we're all in this together anyway. So quit fussing you octo pansies," snapped Luna.

Maxine's unit was getting more agitated with Luna's disposition about their punishment. They looked as if they were ready to pounce on Luna and give her a beating before Mirage came back but Star reasoned with the crowd enough to make them falter and let their grudges go with Luna.

Meanwhile, Melony stumbled across Sigma who was at a shock to see her. "S...Sergeant Melony! How did you get here?" he asked with surprise.

"Can it Sigma...where's my sister at?" she asked the male octoling.

"Um, laying down. I need to tell you that she got hurt pretty bad. We had unexpected company. The octoling commandos," he explained.

"Octoling commandos! Way out here...why would they've come here?"

"They were after an octoling scientist, she's been killed. I assumed the commandos executed her but they took a human with them to bring back to octo base,"

"A human? There was another one? Never mind that. I just wanna see Maxine,"

"She's in here," said Sigma as he stepped into the room, waving Melony to follow.

Maxine was on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her arms were wrapped as well as part of her head. Giving a sigh she turned to two figures walking into the room, one them causing her to jerk and sit up quickly, making her winch from the quick movement on her injuries. "Melony!" she shouted. "Hey sis, glad to see you made out of the village," Melony told her.

"Melony I wasn't sure if I'd ever see you again. How did you get here?"

"That elite, Lieutenant Mirage and that squad of hers got us out of the octoweapons factory. We were captured not long after we all got separated but thanks to her we escaped and made it back here but we lost some of our troops during the fighting and we managed to disrupt the octarians progress with constructing the octoweapons," She told Maxine as she sat on the bed beside her.

"I should thank the lieutenant. I'm indebted that she would volunteer to find you and rest of my team without me asking her to do so,"

"I'm glad she found us too and that I could be reunited with my sister again," Melony said as she hugged Maxine.

"SNIFF SNIFF...Why do you smell like kelp ale?"

"Umm about that I guess you say we had a celebratory drink back in town and we uh...got polluted,"

"So where's the rest of those drunk octopi then?"

"Back in the atrium. The lieutenant wasn't pleased about our partying and now she's making us do PT as punishment for it,"

"If I was in her shoes, I would've done the same thing. You know better Melony. I don't care if it was over some little victory. I wouldn't have appreciated you and my platoon getting intoxicated. I'd say it serves you and the rest of them right,"

"Maybe so...what's with that lieutenant anyway. What's her story?"

"After we ventured out from the village, we came across tentacle town. We decided to hang low with the squids until those ink bags found us. We got into a skirmish and took refuge at the town hall. We thought we were goners until the lieutenant and that squad of hers showed up and saved our butts. Took down an octomaw while we were at too," she explained as she tried to move her bandaged arm.

"Sounds like you guys had as much fun as we did. Glad to see you made it out in one piece, well before you dealt with those commandos,"

"It was because of that scientist is why they found this place. Serves her right for getting splatted. She should've known better to trust them and now they've taken a human or what we think is now turning into an octoling,"

"An octoling?...what do you mean,"

"The egghead said something about a connection between our race and the humans. Don't know how but..."

"Sarge, I don't mean to interrupt but you have more visitors," pointed out Sigma who had been standing by. It was Vee and Emma who decided to walk in and check up on Maxine, who they heard got injured.

"Huh...oh, it's you," said Maxine, seeing the two come into the room.

"Hey, Maxine. I overheard about the commandos and another human,"

"Yeah, there was another human that the scientist and your commander stumbled across. I'm assuming he must've woken up like your friend Seth did. Why isn't Seth changing like the human the commandos took?"

"I heard you mention about him changing into an octoling like us. Is that really true?" Vee asked. "Seth by what I can tell still looks human to me...but his wife on the other hand changed into that sea hare. I think her name was Flow,"

"The sea hare with the squids? I'm having a hard enough time believing that a human is turning into an octoling and now you're telling me that hippie sea hare was a human? Yeah I'll believe that when sea pigs fly,"

"I don't think she was lying. Seth sounded like he believed her and I'm not sure what reason he has not to,"

"Vee," said the little octoling as she pulled on Vee's arm.

"Yeah, Emma,"

"Is something wrong with Seth?"

"Emma, it's hard to explain for someone young like you. You wouldn't understand,"

"What's with the youngster?" asked Maxine.

"She came with us. She lived in the village, and we just couldn't leave her behind,"

"I'm already having to babysit a certain octopus and the squids, why not add another to the bunch," she said as she held her head and looked at Sigma. "Corporal, where's those painkillers,"

"Coming sarge," he hurried over, pulling out a bottle from his pocket.

"Hey we're gonna go ahead and leave. C'mon Emma let's go check on Seth," As she guided Emma out of the room as the sergeant swiped the bottle from Sigma.

In another part of the facility Mirage was hunting for Seth while Melony was speaking with her sister. "Seth!..." Mirage called out as she walked down the hallway toward the crew quarters. She heard voices as she was approaching the rooms, then out walked Seth, who nearly ran into the elite. "Oh, um...lieutenant, I wasn't sure when you would be back after... you know,"

"Yeah, about that I'm still trying to get over this migraine. Freakin' Luna. I'm gonna run her ragged for this," sneered the elite.

"You can't blame her. Sure, she brought up partying in front of those guys and then one thing led to another. It's not like she aimed her weapon at everyone and told them to start chuggin' until they couldn't stand anymore. You were drinking and so was I...I can't help but feel you're not so much as mad at Luna but what happened in that room...if you can remember that is," Seth told her.

"I didn't...Luna and Star told me. When I woke up I was naked and laying in a bed. Then when they told me about you carrying me up there, I was both mortified and angry, n...not at you of course but I guess myself...and yes, I drank, and I shouldn't have so yes, I'm mad at myself too. I'm a disciplined officer and I should be leading my team by example not lowering myself and indulging in Luna's bad habits," she said as she crossed her arms.

"I drank too so don't feel bad,"

"You knew your limit and I respect that Seth,"

"You've endured a lot. I know how that is being a soldier,"

Mirage paused seeing how casually Seth was trying to cope with her problems. She never knew anyone else that could relate to what she had been through. Thoughts were racing through her mind and she was trying to keep her composure but that was losing to her passion for him and the elite couldn't contain it anymore but then Vee peeked her head from the doorway and saw her commander standing before Seth.

"Hey, Lieutenant you're back. I'm guessing the party is finally over," said the private as Emma stood beside her, picking her nose.

"I won't dare comment on that one," said Mirage before she turned her attention back to the human. "Seth you...didn't tell her did you," she muttered, trying to keep Vee from hearing. Seth meekly nodded as an expression of relief appeared on Mirage's face, giving a deep breath.

"What's going on? What are you guys talking about?" asked Vee.

"Vee if you don't mind I wanna borrow Seth for a bit,"

"I'm not sure why you're asking? I came back to check on Seth after learning about that sea hare being his..."

"I just want to talk with him privately,"

"Um, sure I guess. C'mon Emma let's go see what everyone else is doing,"

"Bye daddy," waved the young octoling.

"Emma," embarrassed by Emma.

"Daddy? Should I ask what that was about," asked Mirage, curious as to why Emma referred to the human that way.

"She's only a child. Missing her parents is taking a toll on her and she was kicking the idea of making Vee an adoptive mom and me the dad. Crazy right...kids," said Seth as he rubbed the back of his head and gave an awkward laugh. Mirage raised an eyebrow and wouldn't dare question the issue anymore. "So...what else did you wanna tell me?" he asked getting off topic.

"Let's go to your room and I'll tell you," she told him. He shrugged and the two headed to the room he slept in. Mirage was getting antsy. She was rubbing her groin, knowing that her estrus was getting worse and instincts would eventually kick in...which was what she was afraid of.

As the two stepped into the room. Mirage closed the door behind them and locked it without Seth noticing. He turned around and looked at the elite. "OK, what did you wanna discuss?" he asked her.

She gave deep breath and walked over before plopping on the bed beside Seth. Taking her goggles off and looking up at Seth with her glowing yellow eyes. The human could tell something was up with the octoling for her to want to speak in private. "Lieutenant, you seem pretty tense. You sure you don't wanna talk some other time," said Seth as he sat on the bed.

"No...this can't wait, I..." she said nervously as she rubbed her crouch and gave a slight grunt.

"OK...What's going on?"

"About what happened back at the bar," she finally answered, staring at him.

"Look what took place, I don't hold you accountable for it. I'm over it and just glad to see your back," he said trying to reassure her.

"Do you love me?" she bluntly asked him.

"Do what?" he exclaimed, raising his arm and looking at her with an estranged expression.

"Do you...love me?" she asked again, this time more passionately. Seth was at a loss of words for a moment, trying to unravel why she would ask him such a question but then he thought about what happened in the spare room at the bar.

"Lieutenant. Why are you asking me such a question. I...like you...and the others. You're practically the only friends I have right now," he told her.

"That sea hare, your wife... since you two found each other does that mean..." she said anxiously, leaning closer toward the human.

"Flow, I mean Sarah...still loves me and I'll always love her but," he said as he looked away.

"But what?"

"At the end of the day. She'll be gone. I didn't get to tell you that her conscious or spirit or however you wanna put won't be in Flow's body anymore. She'll pass on and then she'll and I mean Flow will never know me as if she was my wife," he explained to the elite.

"Seth I'm...sorry, I didn't know. I shouldn't have brought it up," The elite faltered and slouched over, regretting her words.

"No, it's ok lieutenant. That's just how it is...she'll pass on but my son, I don't know where he is or if he's even still human. I'll be to myself again," he said, catching Mirage's attention.

"You have us Seth, doesn't that count?"

"Lieutenant you don't seem like yourself...you're more compassionate than usual. I far cry from when you started talking to me back in the hall," Seth noticed.

"This is hard for me to get out so bear with me. We have a lot in common more than what you think. I'm...having these feelings, these urges I've never felt before. I can't control them anymore and well..."

"You can't cope with it, that's what you're telling me and I think you're scared too. Not sure if you've been afraid before neither. Maybe I should go get Vee and we can talk about this together..." he said as he started to get up only to be grabbed by the elite.

"NO! I only wanna talk to you...Seth...I love you! OK, I admit it!" she cried out, clinching her eyes as she had a firm hold of Seth's arm.

"Lieutenant...I'm not sure how to respond to that," he told her as he was pulled back down.

"Tell me you love me...you said it yourself that your wife won't be here after today. You don't have to be alone. Once we reach the surface, we can...be a couple," Mirage's emotions were now in control and she was getting desperate to woo the human into a relationship.

"Do you hear yourself right now. You're acting out on unstable emotions and what if I can't accept your feelings. I've already told Vee once that I couldn't be with her and I can't be with you. I'm a human... and you're an octoling. I don't think a relationship could happen between us," he said as he pried Mirage's hand off of his arm.

"I've opened up my feelings for you. I agreed to help you find your family and now you're unwilling to take my hand in courtship...ugh, it hurts," she said in disappointment before she grabbed her groin.

"I'm sorry it hurts lieutenant but I can't accept the feelings you have for me," he told as he got up off the bed.

"Not that! Mmmmm..." she snapped at him, clearly in pain as he seen was, she was referring too. Placing her hand between her legs, he saw a stream of ink run down her leg from out of tight black shorts.

"Oh geez...maybe we should take you to medical bay to look at that," he said, realizing what he thinks she may be going through and something he didn't want to deal with. A moody if not very bi-polar octopus.

"It'll have to run its course. Seth...you need to get out of here," she jeered, still holding her groin.

"Why? I think you need help," he said as he cautiously approached her. She looked up at him and shot him a menacing glare as she bared her teeth. Instincts were taking control now. No longer would their be persuasion but force.

"No...I'll hurt you if you don't leave. Gah! I...have to mate," she said, grabbing herself as drips of ink were running out of her shorts.

Seth was getting frightened. He didn't realize that her natural urges were taking over. If she can't win Seth over then force would be required. Mirage clutched the bed sheet before looking up at Seth with a leering gaze seeing her pupils had constricted. "Oh shit," he muttered. He backed away toward the door and turned the knob not realizing it was locked by Mirage when they entered the room. By the time he figured out how to unlock it, she pounced on him and grabbed him, pinning him to the floor.

The octoling was strong and Seth couldn't get up. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, human," she told him. This couldn't have been the lieutenant talking but as if her natural instinct had manifested itself within her. "Mirage don't do this! Fight it!" he yelled at her in an attempt to snap the octoling out of her frenzy.

"Ugh...I'm sorry Seth. There's only way to make it stop," she replied, still pinning Seth to the floor.

"I'm...sorry too, I hope you can forgive me," he told her, before he kneed her between the legs. She screamed, losing her grip of Seth allowing him to push her off and try to get away but she jeered and quickly recovered. Now angry for hitting her, she was set to have her way with him, one way another.

Seth crawled to the door and grabbed the handle but not before being grabbed by the leg and thrown toward the bed. As he sat up, Mirage pounced on him and grabbed his throat, squeezing it. Seth was gasping for air, getting strangled by the deranged elite. He couldn't talk as he tried to pry her grip around his neck until he nearly blacked out. Mirage quickly came to her senses and shook her head seeing Seth go unconscious from the stranglehold. Letting go, her eyes stared at him, and she froze in place. "S...Seth, Seth!"

Seth came awake and gasped for air before he started coughing and rubbing his neck. "Oh, my cod, Seth!" she exclaimed quickly hugging him. "M...Mirage, you're...back to normal (cough)," he said as she let go and looked at him with deep remorse.

"Seth, I don't know what came over me...I could've killed you,"

"You came close...(panting) What got into you? Why did you attack me?" demanding she answer.

"It's...(sobbing) the pheromones made me go crazy. I couldn't help myself Seth," she cried out before she covered her eyes and tears ran down her cheeks. Seth saw the octoling was consumed in guilt and sat up to give her a hug. Stunned that he would even comfort her after she tried to force herself on him to the degree of killing him. "Mirage it's ok, I forgive you...," he told her.

"(Sniffle) Seth... I don't deserve your empathy. I nearly killed you," she told as she wiped her eyes.

"If you really wanted me dead then you wouldn't have let go of my neck," he told her, but she still turned her face away from the human. "This doesn't mean we can't still be friends. I like you...and I care about you. You were willing to help me find my family even though I was a human. I don't hate you for what you did," he continued to talk to the octoling.

She turned and faced him, her eyes still watery as she brushed her front tentacle. "Seth you...really mean that," she asked. "Of course, I do...I'm not gonna let a near death experience ruin our relationship," he said.

"Seth...as awkward as this may sound with your wife...going away. Is there any chance that me and you..."

"Become a couple...Lieutenant. I don't think I could answer that question to be honest. I think it's too early to give a verdict. How about we just keep it at a friend level for now and see where it goes,"

"I can accept that even though I almost killed you. I like you too Seth," she said as the elite came over and gave Seth a quick hug. "By the way. You don't have to refer to me as lieutenant anymore," she told him.

"Huh, I'm part of your squad. I should call you out by your rank," he told her.

"No, you don't. I could care less,"

"But," he started to say.

"That's...an order," she told him with a smirk on her face. Seth chuckled and shook his head. She moved up to his face and kissed him on the cheek. Seth blushed and rubbed it. Seemed Mirage was back to normal...well maybe not normal for the uptight, reserved octoling but normal as in not predatory like before. She helped him up and then grunted before rubbing her crouch. "Guess you octoling girls go through the same thing human girls go through. I'm glad my wife didn't try to take my head when she went through that," Seth commented.

"To tell you the truth. This is a first for me. I didn't know how to react to this,"

"Speaking of wife. I wanna spend time with her before she...goes away,"

"Seth...I don't think she'll be gone forever, or I don't believe she will be. I'm glad you found your wife, but I hate it that now she's, well going away or however you put it,"

"I know you're trying to console me and...thanks. This is...going to be hard. I'm not sure what to do or what to say. She's my wife but she's in that body until she has to depart," he said as he got off the floor and brushed his pants.

"Seth, just be yourself and don't dwell on it. It doesn't matter if she's a sea hare on the outside. It's on the inside what counts,"

"Doesn't sound like talk coming from an octarian soldier,"

"Well, being around you has changed me in more ways than one. Talk like that came from you,"

"Now you're beginning to sound like Sarah,"

"So, curious now...what brought about that young octoling to call you, her dad. You said it was because of her missing parents wasn't it,"

"Guess she wants to fill that void. I can't blame her. Vee said she had been living alone fending for herself for some time. It's really sad and I felt really bad, so I played along,"

"I know your child is still missing but... did it ever cross your mind if you'd be willing to have another?" she asked him.

"Have another? Um, don't see that as possible. My wife's a slug and..." he pointed out as Mirage shook her head.

"I'm not talking about having a child by her and what's to say the next one isn't full human," she told him as Seth gave her an estranged look.

"What? I'm just being hypothetical, relax,"

Seth left the room to go find Flow before the end of the day had neared. Mirage was enamored by the human and had hoped he would've reconsidered his stance on a relationship with her but maybe in time he would come around especially since Sarah would depart from the sea hare's body giving Seth closure and a reason to move on. Mirage recollected herself and grabbed the goggles off the bed and put them on before she left for the atrium to drill the octoling unit and the octarians, thinking it would get her mind off things.

When she returned to the atrium she stopped and paused. she saw the octolings, including Luna and Star napping on the floor, snoring away. The elite gritted her beak and shouted loud enough to wake everyone up. "WAHHHH!" both Luna and Star yelled, jumping up and startled by their leader's voice.

"DID I SAY IT WAS NAP TIME! You got PT to do you lazy octopi!" she barked. Rubbing their eyes with exasperated expressions, the octolings were not looking forward to the strenuous exercises especially in the shape they were in. They groaned and cussed to themselves as they stood at attention in front of the elite.

"Fall in!" she ordered them. They got in formation and placed their hands behind their backs as if they were in the military. "Hold on, where's those ink for brain tentacles at!?" Mirage saw the twintacle, two troopers and octoball were missing.

The octolings just shrugged making Mirage even more agitated. "They probably wondered off somewhere so don't get your tentacles in a knot," scoffed Luna.

"You just doubled your number of pull ups lieutenant," sneered Mirage.

"What! We're the same freakin' rank. Which reminds me... I shouldn't be doing this stupid punishment in the first place," she scoffed with her arms crossed.

"Think again, I'm your squad leader even if we're both officers. Keep opening that beak of yours and I'll triple it. You're already on my shit list Luna,

"Well aren't you gonna go find those inkheads?"

"(deep breath) You're all dismissed...for now. Your punishment isn't over with,"

"Oh, c'mon Mirage. Be sensible...isn't a hangover bad enough punishment?" whined Star.

"You wanna end up like Luna?" asked Mirage. Star shook her head. "Didn't think so, I'll decide when your punishment is over with. As I said, you're all dismissed for the time being. While I go wrangle up those dopey tentacles," Mirage said as she stormed off.

In the warehouse the octarians were routing through crates and other gear left behind by the facility staff. "Wonder what this stuff is?" asked the twintacle as it was going through a crate of MREs and then holding one up. One of the troopers walked over and sniffed it. After that it sucked up the packaged ration and swallowed it, giving a satisfied gargle.

"Food?" replied the twintacle as the trooper nodded. The twintacle grabbed another MRE and without even opening it. Stuffed it in its mouth and ate it. It jumped and smiled. For the octarian the ration was really good even though it wasn't cooked or unwrapped. It started chowing down on another and after a few minutes the twintacle and trooper's attention was gotten.

The second trooper rushed over to where they were at, seeing them go to town on the MREs. "Hey you guys! Come look at this thing!" shouted the other trooper. The twintacle and the first trooper looked at each other and followed the second trooper.

It lead them to what appeared to be an armored IFV. The octoball was staring at it off to the side and was curious to what it was. The vehicle was a Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle to transport troops on a battlefield but what was it doing down here and why would the facility staff need something like this along with the other weapons?

"What is that?" asked the twintacle.

"It kind a reminds of the octostomp tank," replied the trooper standing beside it.

"Isn't this thing cool. I guess it's a human machine," said the other trooper.

"It looks kinda like an ink cannon mounted on top if it," said the first trooper.

"I wish bob were here to see this," said the octoball sadly.

"Hey, you need to get over it. Bob gave his life saving us, well he didn't have a brain either. Not sure if he saved us on purpose or not," said the twintacle.

"Bob did save us! We'd be puddles of ink if it weren't for him or it," protested the ball-shaped octarian.

The trooper managed to hop on top of it and looked around. "I'm not sure if that's safe," said the trooper on the ground.

"Safe is my middle name and, woah!" the trooper shouted as it fell in the driver's hatch. "Hey you OK!?"

"I bumped my head, I mean tentacle...oh shrimp, this thing is pretty sweet," said the trooper inside the Lynx KF41. "Huh, what do you mean?"

"I would trade this for a scooter any day. Come in here and look. This is so much bigger and cooler than those octostomp tanks," said the trooper getting the other threes' attention. The tentacle outside grabbed the octoball and threw it up on top of the tracked tank. Then it, with the twintacle's help got on top. The octoball rolled inside it while the twintacle and trooper jumped through the hatch. "This is cool...and roomy," commented the twintacle.

"Yeah, this is pretty neat-o," said the other trooper. As it was sitting in the driver's seat, it continued to look around, grabbing the driving controls with its tentacle.

"Have you tried pushing any buttons?" asked the octoball.

"Uh, no. I can't read any of this. It's not in octarian so I was afraid of messing with anything," he replied back.

"I guess it's in human. I think he's got a point. We might as well get out of this thing," said the other trooper.

As the octarians started coming out they heard a familiar voice shouting from the warehouse entry. "Oh no, I know who that is. It's that obnoxious black head again. Get back in, quick!" the twintacle warned them. As soon as they heard the elite getting closer, they shut the hatch closed and hid from Mirage.

"Hey! Where are you stupid tentacles!" she yelled. The lieutenant headed toward the back of the supply bay and looked around where the military vehicles and weapons were stored. Getting more and more irritated, she saw no signs of the tentacles. Stopping as she tapped her boot and put her hands on her hips beside the IFV the tentacles were hiding inside.

"Shuuuush, we don't want her finding us" the twintacle said as they were trying to get situated, squinched up together on top of the commander's seat inside the tank.

"Evading your punishment. Fine, make it harder on yourselves. When I do find you, I'm gonna ring the ink out of you tentacles!" she said as she walked away from the vehicle.

As soon as the tentacles thought she had left, one of the troopers slowly opened the hatch and peeked out. "Is she gone?" asked the twintacle.

"I think it's safe to come you guys," said trooper as it flipped the hatch open but unaware right behind it on top of the tank was standing a beyond irritated elite, staring down at the sneaky octarian. As it came out she grabbed it and threw to the ground. The other octarians screamed as Mirage hopped inside and gave the trio a beating before flinging them out of the hatch. Finally as Mirage climbed out and jumped down, the tentacles now bruised up, looked at her shaking.

"Let that be a lesson to you tentacles. Now I want you to get your asses back to the atrium on the double!" she scolded them. Flinching and not daring to argue the tentacles dashed for the exit as fast as there little legs would allow.

Meantime, Seth had finally found Flow in the room with the inklings. He knocked beside the door, seeing the inklings conversate with one another until their attention was gotten by the human. "Um, hey. I didn't wanna just barge in but I was just needing to talk to Flow," he told them.

"She's been acting odd, lately. Why do you need to talk to her?" asked Bill.

"It's a private matter,"

"Private? Flow's our friend too. She's one of the shopkeepers at Inkopolis. Whatever you need to tell her you can tell us," said Jazz.

"Listen, this very important and... you wouldn't be able to handle the truth. I'll leave it that. I just wanna spend time with her until the end of the day,"

"This is just strange. You've hardly ever interacted with her and now you wanna talk to her all of a sudden. What's going on?" asked Lily suspiciously.

Flow then walked between the group of inklings and stood before Seth before turning toward them. "Please listen... he has something he wants to discuss with me. This is between me and him and I need you guys to please leave," Flow told the inklings. They looked at her with confusion, uncertain why she would want to be alone with Seth but out of respect they left the room and headed for the cafeteria.

As soon as they were gone the two glanced at one another. "Alright Seth I... what happened to you!?" she exclaimed, seeing that Seth looked as if he had gotten into a scrap. She noticed the red handprints around his neck as if someone had choked.

"Huh, oh um...don't worry about it?" Seth told her as he rubbed his throat.

"Who choked you!?" she exclaimed.

"Sarah it's nothing... me and Mirage, I guess you can say uh, got in a confrontation but we settled it and she was really sorry. You know how she gets at times,"

"Seth...just tell the truth,"

"Sarah I can't. I'm ashamed to tell you,"

"Why?" Placing her hands on her hips.

"Mirage was in estrus and well she...how do I put this, couldn't control herself,"

"Oh my gosh...you and her didn't..." She panicked as she cupped her mouth.

"No! She came back to her senses, and we had a heart to heart...your name got brought up too. She doesn't know how to act on her feelings. She's kept them repressed this whole time and she's been lashing out. She's kind of angry with herself but I think she's scared too. I tried comforting her and I think she understands that she just needs to learn to cope with her emotions and that I wasn't angry with what had happened,"

"Well, I'm glad things worked out between you and her and you two stayed friends,"

"Listen Sarah, I wouldn't let anything come between us and jeopardize our relationship. I want to let you know and..." he started to but then Flow covered his mouth.

"Seth, I understand... me and you had a good run and it's time that someone took my place," she told him as she released her hand.

"Sarah it's not like that. I even told Mirage that...

"You told her I would be gone soon too,"

"I did... she asked about it and I went ahead and talked about the situation,"

"How'd she take it,"

"I think she was sad but overall. I still think she was trying to console me over it but... I sense that she made this an opportunity to take your place as inconsiderate as that may sound,"

"If she loves you then why push her away,"

"Because I love you that's why Sarah," he said as he hugged Flow but at the same time trying not to break out from crying, holding his tears back knowing Sarah would leave him. "...I don't wanna see you go and I'd be willing to do anything to make that happen even if it means taking my own life...SMACK!" He rambled before feeling a hand slapping him in the face, causing him to jerk back from the sea hare.

"Don't ever say that to me! I've been through enough as it is and to hear that come out of your mouth makes my heart feel even heavier. Our son is out there, and he needs his father. Find him for us and tell him I'm sorry for ever leaving him," she exclaimed giving Seth a displeased look as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Sarah...I'm sorry I... we just got reunited and I learn our son is still missing and that you're about to leave me again. How am I supposed to take this?" he told her with grief in his voice as he held his cheek from the smack.

"By staying alive for me...for our son. Death is not the end but a new beginning. The lord taught us that. Hearing you take your life will bring only one outcome and that's...we'll never see each other again," she said as she downed her head.

"You're right my dear... I have to remain strong. I gotta remain faithful that, I'll get to see my son again, but it pains me that he'll never see his mother again,"

"It'll be fine hon...but I would like to ask one favor," Flow told him as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'll do anything," he said as he placed his hand on Flow's cheek.

"Promise me that you'll move and make the right decision by that girl...and that you find Virgil," she told. Seth was conflicted by what she told him but...if that was what his wife then would be willing to do that, especially locating his lost son.

"I promise,"

"Seth I...feel my time is nearing. I don't wanna leave you. Not in the place where I had to leave you when me and our son woke up. Please take me outside," she pleaded with him.

"Anything for you,"

But as the two were about the leave the room. A figure was standing outside listening to the whole conversation. They changed forms and swam out of sight before they were seen. It was getting later and as Seth and Flow made their way to the atrium. They saw the octolings doing rigorous PT. The tentacles had tired themselves out and were nearly passed out on the floor. Maxine's unit was nearly tuckered out themselves, straining to do their pull-ups and push-ups. He spotted Luna and Star doing jumping jacks, their faces beading sweat and red from the workout. "Keep going! I didn't say it was time to stop!" Mirage shouted at them.

"Reminds me of boot camp," commented Seth as the two headed in. He turned to Flow and told her, "Hey, head to the elevator. I'm just going to talk to Mirage for a moment,"

The sea hare gave a nod and walked across the atrium and around the octolings and tentacles. Seth came up behind Mirage and tapped her on the shoulder. She jerked and quickly turned around and saw Seth. "Oh, hey Seth," she said.

"Hey...I'm going to take Sarah up top. I'll be sticking with her until she leaves. Just to let you know if you needed me for anything,"

"No you're excused...I understand,"

"Thank you, lieutenant," he said as she gave him a soured look. "I mean Mirage,"

Luna and Star watched Seth leave behind Flow before they stopped doing their jumping jacks. "I wonder what that's about?" asked Luna.

"Yeah, I'm curious myself," commented Star.

"Hey you two! I didn't say stop!" Mirage yelled at them.

"Why's Seth heading up with the slug?" asked Luna.

"That's none of your business lieutenant. So, get back to..."

"Listen here, I know you're my commander, but I say we've done enough. I'm practically smelling the ale pouring out of me. I can't take it anymore; my legs feel like jello and my arms feel like they're about to fall off. Even the tentacles are wiped out," pointed out Luna who was clearly tired doing her exercises.

"At ease!" Mirage yelled at the group.

"Fine...but next time I'll be sure you don't stop until you've been reduced to a puddle of ink,"

"Mirage! What's this really about...it's Seth isn't it...there's something between him and that sea hare that came with the inklings," said Luna as she approached Mirage.

"Let this go Luna. This is between me and him," Mirage warned her agitated squad mate.

"Admit it..." pointing her finger, close enough to touch Mirage's breast plate.

"Luna don't push her," warned Star.

"No, sergeant... just because she didn't get laid doesn't mean she can take it out on us,"

"What did you say," said Mirage. Not taking Luna's comment well at all which got the attention of the othe octolings.

"You heard me... you want me to say again,"

"You're a tentacle tip from getting your butt handed to you,"

"You threatening me," she said coldly as she narrowed her eyes at Mirage.

"Luna that's enough," advised Star in which Luna ignored her and pushed her away.

"Let's face it... she couldn't win the human over. You're so jaded that Seth wouldn't want to be someone like you so he chose that mellow-minded sea slug over you. Is that it," Luna said moving closer into Mirage's face.

Mirage clinched her fist, resisting the urge to slug her teammate but Star stepped in between them. "Luna I said stop already, Mirage let it go...don't do anything drastic, please. We're a team and we shouldn't be attacking each other. What is Maxine's unit thinking seeing you two up each other's throats. What does that say about us. I thought we were all leaving octo canyon together as a group," said Star, trying to pacify the situation between the two elites.

Luna stepped away as Mirage's anger subsided and she relaxed her hand. "(sigh) Star's right...for once? oddly enough," said Luna.

"And I shouldn't let that mouth of yours get to me. I don't wanna degrade morale around here now that we have a large enough unit that we might be able to make it to the surface," replied Mirage.

"I think you two need to make up," Star told the two octolings.

"Fine, I'm sorry ok," said Luna.

"You expect me to apologize, she's the one that started this," Mirage said looking at Star.

"Just for the sake of the team, shake hands and say you're sorry...and mean it this time," Star giving Luna a look.

Luna gave a nod before the two shook and gave a quick hug. "I'll just go ahead and say it. Yeah, I can be a blow hard and nosy little octopus that can get under everyone's tentacles, but you can be such an..."

"Octo winch," Mirage finished for her.

"Well not exactly the term I would've used but...yeah, at times,"

"I think we've all been under a lot of stress, but I can honestly say we're fortunate to even make it back from the octoweapons factory especially with the odds stacked against us. I think we need to learn from our past experiences and prepare for more challenges to come. It's putting a strain on all of us and out of all people it seems Seth has endured a lot and yet he's keeping a calm wit about himself. He doesn't let his troubles drag him down...and neither should we," said Mirage.

"Yeah, the guy has gone through a lot. With everything he went through before and after he woke up out of that oversized freezer," said Luna.

"I agree, Seth's been there for us and he's the last of his kind," complimented Star.

"I think I should step down from commander and give that title to him," suggested Mirage.

"Uh, you're seriously going to do that?" replied Star, stunned that Mirage would even consider removing herself from leadership.

"I am... keeping everything bottled up and letting my emotions get the best of me hasn't helped me one bit on being an effective leader,"

"You got us through the last mission. I would say you're more than a dignified leader," said Luna.

"Yeah, Mirage. We wouldn't have made it if it weren't for you," said Star.

"Maybe you should talk to Seth about that before you decide to make this hasty decision lieutenant," advised Luna.

"Maybe so...right now, Seth is needing to work things out with his wife,"

"Wife?" the two squad mates said in unison with confused looks.

"Oh, right...I guess I better explain things,"

Outside, above the complex. Both Seth and Flow (Sarah) were overlooking the housing area below the ravine, down the valley. A small, serene river flowed between them and the neighborhood that was constructed by humans long ago. Seth wasn't sure what to say to the sea hare. Both she and him had remained silent for a few minutes, just admiring the view.

"What happened Seth?" she asked him, breaking their silence.

"Huh, what do ever mean?"

"What I mean is... the world, what happened to it?"

"Sarah, you know as well as I do what happened. War broke out and the nukes... just destroyed everything. Our home is gone forever and now we're stuck in this alien world. There's no going back. I wish Blackwell had never kidnapped us and brought us to this damn place. We might as well have perished with everyone else, but we would've died together,"

"It may be a blessing in disguise...we never asked to get stuffed in those pod things and I never wanted to turn into this... creature. I lost everything even you when me and Virgil left this place and then...I had to let go of our son,"

"Don't worry Sarah. I made a promise to find him and I intend to do just that,"

"I...don't wanna leave again," she told him as she clutched to his body and started to cry.

"Sarah, you said yourself. You won't leave me...no matter what," he told her, holding the sea hare tight.

"I love you Seth," she uttered.

"And I'll always love you,"

As Flow stared at him she noticed how late it was getting from the monitors displaying the sky outside. Flow had felt weak all of a sudden, dropping to her knees. "Sarah, what is it?" Seth panicked as he grabbed her. "It's ok, Seth...take me down toward those houses, please," she asked him.

"What for?" holding Flow.

"Please just...it's the closest thing that reminds of our old home,"

Seth seen how weak she was getting and oblidged by her request. The settlement down the hill was vaguely reminiscent of their old neighborhood before the oceans wiped everything out. He picked her up and carried the sea hare on his back. When they reached the abandoned housing area, he spotted the house he was tied up in when he met the octoling squad. She pointed to it and Seth carried her inside. The interior was mildew-ridden, and dust polluted the air. The furniture was ruined, and trash littered the floors. "Seth...somethings strange about this place. It reminds of home so much," she said weakly.

"It does, doesn't it. I never noticed before until now," he said, carrying Flow on his back.

The two of them traversed to the back, into a small bedroom with a cradle inside. "I remember this room. It's where I was being held prisoner by Mirage's team. There's something ominous about this room," he said. As he examined the cradle, he spotted a picture frame facing the floor, covered in grime.

He slowly picked it up and wiped the filth off of it and nearly dropped it at what he had seen. "It can't be," he said as he looked at the photo. It was a picture of him, Sarah and Virgil. Flow saw it and knew something was definetily familiar about the house. "How is this possible...we're underground. How did our old home, old neighborhood end up down here?" he said.

"I'm not sure if this is our real home... but a replica," Flow said.

"A replica? Why would there be a replica of our home...our neighborhood...the town..." Seth answered, trying to compile a reasonable explanation and then he thought of something. "Wait a remembered the writing on the door in the sewers. The skeleton with the journal...what the hell's going on?" he panned, stuck in thought.

Flow was mumbling as she was laying against Seth's back. "Sarah...Sarah are you still with me?"

"Uhhh...huh," she weakly replied, losing consciousness. Seth set her down in a nearby chair and held her, so she wouldn't fall over.

"Sarah hold on. What do you need me to do?" he asked her. Seth was really worrying about her. Flow weakly opened her eyes and looked at him as he stared back, with a deeply troubled expression. "Seth...make things right for me," she answered.

"I...I will Sarah,"

"Think about our son Virgil... and think about...Mirage,"

"I...don't want to let go of you. You and Virgil mean everything to me babe,"

"We'll... meet again one day. Please move on for me,"

"I...I can't do that," he said with grief.

"Yes...you can. I'll always love you Seth,"

"Sarah! Don't leave me," he pleaded.

Flow finally passed out and Sarah was gone. Her spirit had left the sea hare and left the world of the living. Seth cried into the sea hare's lap for a moment. As his grief of losing his wife had subsided, he realized there was nothing else he could do but find Virgil, his missing son as promise to his wife. He carried Flow back to the facility and nestled her against a parked rusty vehicle and covered her with his uniform shirt. "Sarah, I will make everything right and I will find our son or die trying," he said as he pulled out the dirty photo, he grabbed from the picture frame of the house.

As minutes passed, he dug a fake grave as a memorial for his wife. Scavenging for any material he could use to make a cross over the grave as he etched Sarah's name into it. Seth was still grieving that his wife had to leave Flow's body, struggling to put everything behind he dropped to his knees and prayed...but he wasn't alone. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He jerked not expecting the elite standing behind him, looking at him with empathy behind her goggles.

"I'm sorry for your loss...this can't be easy for you," she told him.

"It's not... but I have to move on...for her," he said, looking back at Flow's body, sitting against the old vehicle.

"I wish I got to know her...I wish things didn't turn out like this and I do mean that,"

"Thank you for your condolences. I'm sure you two would've been friends. I don't know what I'd do without her, but I made a promise to her...that I'd find my son," he told the elite, before looking back at the grave.

"I'm sure you will, and I'll help if I have to,"

"You guys have your own mission to fulfil like I do mine,"

"You're part of my squad and we stick together. Which brings me to why I'm here," she told him as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "I want you to command the squad. Let's just say I'm promoting you while I'm stepping down,"

"Why are doing this? I can't take lead of the team. That's your job and as I said. I've got my own mission to deal with and that means leaving if I have to," turning his attention to Mirage.

"I don't want you to. We need you and more than ever. I feel I'm not in the state to lead this squad anymore," she said letting his shoulder go.

"Yes you can," he said as he stood up. "I know you Mirage and you've shown it. I don't understand why you're being so doubtful and checking yourself off so quickly. I'm sorry but you need to deal with these new emotions and keep leading this team,"

"Hey, keep your head up and you'll get through this. I know if you can face impossible odds then I know you face your inner problems too. You just gotta believe in yourself and never give up," he continued, putting his hand under her chin to get her attention.

"Inspirational...another trait I've always liked about you Seth. If you believe in me then I'll stay in leadership but know you're still part of my squad. You won't be able to find your son alone...you're gonna need help,"

"I appreciate it...I feel better knowing that I'm not alone anymore even if I'm the last human around," he said as he hugged the elite. She blushed and with a smile she hugged him back. "Um, question...what's this mound of dirt for?" she asked, giving him a confused look.

"It's a grave for Sarah. Well, kinda, I don't have her body to bury but I wanted to do something to remember her by I guess you can say,"

"Bury? What for?"

"Us humans usually hold a funeral and bury our deceased loved ones and mark the grave of our loved one's name, I guess octarians don't do that,"

"Death is something we never take in consideration. We've always came back using the spawn pads at octo base and if for some reason they don't respawn their memory isn't taken in account and they're sort of written off I guess you can say. Call it callous but that's how it is in octarian society," she explained.

"I recall you telling me that now...I forgot you're not human nor your race,"

"That doesn't mean I care. I don't wanna see any of my team members getting splatted and knowing they may never come back. We're not necessarily immune from death. Even my race and the inklings have to die sometime, usually from old age...come to think of it, Octavio has been around since before the great turf war. That would make him over a hundred years old,"

"A hundred years old? What's your kind's life expectancy?"

"Don't really know. why? How long can humans live,"

"It all depends. Not to mention diseases that can kill us. A person does good to live up in his 70s,"

"That would mean humans live a lot shorter than octarians and inklings. 70s would be our middle age I guess you could say. It's a shame humans don't live too long,"

"It probably has something to do with your biology but if I remember octopi back in my time didn't live past 5 years. How on Earth can octarians live so long though, even surpassing a human,"

"I guess you're referring to my ancestors. That is odd but Scarlet always believed that our race as well as the inklings didn't derive from the primitive cephalopods of your time but that we came from humans somehow,"

"We humans don't have tentacles for hair or beaks like any cephalopods and we certainly didn't live past 100 or at least not normally. Why would she think that?"

"Again, don't know. Many of my people thought she was crazy especially her grandfather Octavio. When she came into power a lot changed. Joking and making fun of her theories was unacceptable so my race just followed her even if we didn't support her beliefs,"

"What do you believe?"

"Do I have to answer that...I'm sure you already know the answer,"

"You don't know. Is that it?"

"Growing up in octarian society. We never think about things other than what we're told to believe which is obeying our leader and fighting for our honor. It's just like these emotions I hadn't felt before until I met you," she told him before looking at the cross that was stabbed into the ground. "That marker you placed on the grave... a cross you called it. I stumbled across something like it after I left octo valley," said Mirage as she dug in her pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a necklace with a silver cross on it. She showed it to Seth who took it and held it up.

"I guess there's a relevance to it. I took it because for some reason I felt compelled to. I'm not sure what it meant," she continued as Seth examined it.

"It means faith...something else you probably never felt before or for that matter anyone else in your race. Faith is a power that can't be conquered Mirage. Maybe you picked it up because it was something you've been missing or yearning. Something you could never get being in the octarian army," he told her as he took the cross necklace and put it around his neck.

"Faith... kinda like you have faith in finding your son...or faith in me that I'll overcome my battles," she told him as smile appeared on her face.

"Yes Mirage but faith and love work hand and hand. I love my son and..."

"You...love me,"

"Love as in a dear friend I'm willing to do anything for,"

The octoling wanted to cry hearing those words before she rushed over to hug Seth. As the two embraced each other for a moment they heard Flow stirring. The two looked over and saw her stretch her arms, knocking the uniform shirt over and staring at them with a mellow expression. "Where...am I?" she asked.

"Um, how should I put this," Seth started to say but was unable to think of a way to explain his wife residing in the sea hare's body.

"You came outside to get some fresh air and fell asleep; the inklings are inside. We'll take you back down there. It's getting late anyway," Mirage interrupted.

"Oh, that's odd...the last thing I remember was laying in that bed and now I'm out here," she said but then stared at Seth. "Huh...who are you?" she asked him.

"My name's Seth. We already met...you don't remember us meeting back in the atrium," he asked as she looked at him dumbfounded.

"Maybe I don't. I'm sorry my mind sometimes drifts,"

"You can call that an understatement,"

Mirage and Seth got up and decided to take Flow back in. "I'm getting famished anyway. I haven't eaten in a couple of days," said Seth.

"Me too...why don't we just go eat together," she said.

"Sounds like a good idea,"

Meanwhile...

It was nearing mid-day, the sky above the workers' village and the now smoking octoweapons factory was displaying a partially cloudy sky overhead as Sam hopped out of the tea kettle outside the large town being overlooked by the plant. She changed forms and looked ahead of her. "Never been here...wonder where I'm at now?" said the inkling girl.

Sam squid formed again and swam into town. Hoping across floating platforms and obstacles until she reached the floating landmass the town was sitting on. She changed again and saw no one around as she stood in the middle of the street. "Seems quiet...too quiet," she said staying on guard. As she continued on, she heard something, overhead she spotted a pair of octoseekers fly over and toward the octoweapons factory that was damaged during Mirage and Maxine's platoon escape. After a few seconds she heard a commotion coming from the square in the middle of town. She hunkered down around the corner of a building and watched some octolings shove other octolings and some other octarians against the giant statue of a plant worker trooper that was perched in the square. It looked like a crowd of hostile octarians were getting ready for a firing squad on their own but why?

"Please spare us!" pleaded a trooper that was standing in front of the statue. It and a few other troopers were also lined up at gun point by a squad of octolings. An elite walked up and pointed at them. "You know the penalty of failure tentacle!" she shouted at it.

Sam steadily watched, wondering what was happening. The tentacle got on its knees and groveled. "I have a wife and two numbs I have to feed!" he cried.

"Enough you pathetic tentacle! Get ready to take aim and ink these losers into a puddle," the elite commanded as she stepped away. The trooper wasn't the only one that was about to get executed. three more troopers, two twintacles with a mix of octostamps and few octoballs were also among them. Looking back at the octoling firing squad with fear and dread on their faces. There were even two octolings that were put among them.

"Let this be an example for those you fail their mission. These are Nova's orders and failure is unacceptable," she told the octolings and troopers that were about to get ready to kill their own. The elite signaled them to fire. "No! Please don't..." the trooper started to say before they were all pelted with ink. Though it was octarian ink. It had been tampered with so that it could harm the others for their execution. A slower and painful death compared to just getting splatted.

The unit of enemy octarians left the square and made their way back to the factory. Watching them leave, Sam headed over to the statue to see if anyone had survived the merciless execution. Looking at them it was evident they were dead except one octoling that was coughing at the end of the line up. She moaned and tried to move. Sam rushed over and flipped her over. "Ooooohhh...(coughing)"

"What happened? Why did they do this to?" Sam asked the girl.

"Huh...an...inkling?"

"I asked you what happened?"

"Punishment...for failing to stop the defectors (coughing) (gasp),"

"Defectors...you must mean that octoling squad I met. They must've been through here,"

"It hurts...just put me out of my misery squid,"

"I'm not doing that. You may be an octoling but I'm not willing to let you just suffer,"

"They...plan on storming the surface. Attacking your city (coughing),"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because...I'm about to die anyway,"

"Hey, just hang in their octopus," she told the octoling but it was too late. The octoling succumbed to her injuries and died in Sam's arms before she could try and help her. There was nothing the inkling could do but move on. She had to reach the other tea kettle and rendezvous with the squidbeak squad further in the canyon. Once the inkling left the square, two shadows approached the site of the execution. One of them bent down and assessed the dead octoling that Sam was speaking to. "What a shame...they're brutality doesn't cease to amaze me that they're willing to splat their own and a death like this one," said one of the figures.

"That inkling appeared to show sympathy for her even though she was an octoling, her natural enemy,"

"This proves our races can live in peace once again," the figure pulled a red sash over their head revealing it to be an octoling regular. She turned to her partner who looked back to the slain octoling on the ground.

"What now. We've gathered what intel we could. We stick around anymore and we'll eventually get spotted,"

"I agree. We'll rendezvous with the other cells back at the safehouse. We got stolen uniforms we can use to infiltrate with. I've also gathered a report on a human being apprehended at octorock quarry yesterday from the enemy radio network and now it's went missing. I suggest we head that way and we use the stolen uniforms to pose as part of the search party and find it before the octarians do,"

"A human? Are you sure about that,"

"I'm positive...let's head back before we're caught. This place is starting to get busy since their octoweapons factory got destroyed," said the octoling with the sash. The two of them octo formed and shot away out of sight. Who were these two octolings? It seemed they weren't part of the octarian army under Scarlet's rule by how they were talking. Surely their identities will be revealed soon and what was an interest in finding Seth before the enemy did?

Nova who was the factory commander had left for octo base to answer for her failure to keep the factory defended and was unable to stop the defectors as they escaped. She stormed out of the conference room back at octo command, no one daring to cross in her path until she bumped into the lieutenant that was in lead of the QRF that had managed to lose the human somewhere above the canyon.

Not seeing where she was going. Around the corner of a metal-lined hallway the two ran into each other. "Watch where you're going inkhead! I'm not in the mood to deal with idiots," snapped Nova.

"Who do you think you're talking to octowinch...I just got my tentacles chewed out for losing a prisoner," said the QRF commander.

"one prisoner...try a whole platoon. You negligent enough to lose one turncoat,"

"Turncoat? Uh, try one human,"

"Human, yeah right...tell that someone else,"

"Wait, I recognize you now. You're lieutenant Nova. You used to be a part of the royal guard weren't you,"

"I was...thanks to that traitor Mirage. It's because of her that I was imprisoned until Scarlet pardoned me. The general reassigned me to keep an eye on that inking factory which nearly got burnt down by those defectors. I wish Mirage were here right now so I can twist a knife into her back as I watched the ink drain out of her body,"

"Feel the same about the human. I had him in my custody...until he got away. Freaking fossil is going to pay for what he did,"

"Looks like we got something in common, you and me. We both lost something, and we both want revenge,"

"You suggesting we work together. Forget it...I'm not taking orders from someone who's the same rank as me,"

"Then how about a joint operation then. We help each other out,"

"How do you suppose we do that?"

"Where was the last location of the human?"

The octostrikers pursued it and another rider into one the access tunnels which leads back to one of the outer domes. It stole one of my flying saucers and took a joy ride, killed four of my troops,"

"The defectors were heading toward the outer domes, not sure why instead of finding a way back to the surface,"

"There's a rumor going around base about the commandos. Apparently, they brought back a human when they went to go retrieve some scientist. Don't know how true it is but they recovered it also in one of the outer domes,"

"I'm sensing a pattern here. Knowing Mirage and those defectors, they've established a base somewhere and I'm betting it's in the far western dome where that human place is that Octavio couldn't get into is,"

"You think the human and this Mirage are connected somehow?"

"It can't be a coincidence. My suggestion would be to send some scouts to that part of the canyon and look around. If the human was last seen around there and the defectors are headed in that direction then surely, they're collaborating with each other,"

"A human and defectors. Sounds like a recipe for disaster,"

"More the reason to investigate. I'll dispatch what troops I have left, and you send your octopi to part of the canyon. Keep me in the loop if they stumble upon anything and then we'll find a place to meet up,"

"Sounds like a plan. Just remember...I want the human. You can have your Mirage,"

"Fair enough,"

The two of them went their separate ways after shaking. They would work together on apprehending the human as well as the defectors deeper in octo canyon. Meantime, Sam was nearing the edge of the village, but she didn't see the tea kettle anywhere. Above was a floating piece of freeway that crossed over the much of the village along with other debris and road signs. To her right appeared to be a bus station for octarians wanting to get a ride around the village or go work.

The inkling headed up to see if she should hunt for the tea kettle but had no luck. Then all of a sudden, she heard a noise. A humming coming from behind her. Sam clutched her ink bow and slowly pulled back the cord. Quickly spinning around and launching an ink bolt at a hovering object. It missed nearly hitting the little drone that was watching her.

"Hey! Don't shoot down my drone!" shouted a mechanical voice coming from the little flying machine.

"Huh...who are you?"

"The name's Sheldon, Sheldon Shellendorf and you must be Sam. Agent 3 specifically told me about you...what kind of ink-based weapon is that. I've never seen anything like it," said the drone as it moved in to get a better look at the weapon.

"This thing. It's an ink bow. I got it back in the splatlands," said Sam as she held the bow in front of the drone.

The splatlands? I've never heard of a place like that. I assume they have turf war battles there,"

"Yeah, they do, so you're Sheldon. Agent 3 said you were supposed to meet me, but I was thinking we'd meet in person. What's that thing supposed to be?"

"It's a drone I use. I first built to observe the turf war matches. Watching the tactics the inklings use and what other weapon designs I could concoct to give any turfer an advantage over the enemy teams they would go up against. I also used to aid agent 4 on her mission in the canyon over 2 years ago,"

"You helped my sister?"

"Sister? Your sister is agent 4?"

"Yeah, it's why I'm down here. She went missing and now I'm trying to look for her. Do you know idea how she went missing or if you've seen her recently,"

"I haven't. Been pretty busy tinkering especially when the splatfests come up. I didn't realize agent 4 went missing until agent 3 told me. I'm sorry that your sister had disappeared. I'll do what I can to help you,"

"So, I guess I'm that means I'm an official squidbeak agent now,"

"Well kind of. I need to get your hero gear first. I've taken the liberty of dropping off a case that I hid away so the octarians couldn't find it. I'll show you and then you can put on your field outfit and weld your new hero shot Mk 3,"

"Hero shot mk 3. What's wrong with my ink bow?"

"I would prefer you to use the new agent weapon. I wanna see how it does out in the field. besides I'm sure it would suit you better than the ink bow. You also have an ink tank too. I can see you've had to improvise during your travel,"

"Hey don't diss my gear. I've made it this far with it haven't I,"

"Maybe so but that doesn't mean you can't upgrade. I can assure you would be better off with the agent gear,"

"Fine you flying can opener. I'll use that stupid agent gear,"

"Excellent! Come this way,"

Sheldon's little drone led Sam to the case containing all the hero gear behind a dumpster beside the bus station. Opening it, she looked at the hero outfit and the new hero shot. "Hey, I gotta say it is stylish and it matches my color," she complimented before holding up the new hero shot. "Seems kind of heavy. You sure I can't use my ink bow,"

"You'll get the hang of the hero shot mk 3. So go ahead and put your uniform on,"

"Not out here in the open!"

"Then use the bus station. I'm sure their's a place in there you can change,"

"Alright I'll go change then...and don't you dare peek. I don't care if you're a drone or not,"

Sam walked into the abandoned bus station and headed into a bathroom with the agent uniform. Inside was a commode and sink with a mirror over it. She threw down her backpack and ink bottle. Placing the uniform on the sink she pulled off her ripped top and white twisted scarf that was around her neck. Afterward she pulled her sweatpants down and looked at herself in the mirror.

"(deep sigh) Well here I go," said the naked inkling girl.

Holding up the yellow florescent jacket, she slipped it on and then the black tight pants that came with it. Sitting on the commode she tried on the hero sneakers. "These are pretty comfortable...these digs aren't too bad. They look pretty good on me. I wish Seth were here to see me. Speaking of which...I wish I knew he was ok. I hope Cassie can find him," she said, looking at herself in the mirror, checking out her new outfit. Before she left, Sam placed the ink tank on her back and grabbed the new hero shot off the floor. Walking out of the station she met back up with Sheldon's drone.

"Now you're an official squidbeak agent. Your designation will be umm...this is quite a conundrum,"

"What now?"

"Well, I forgot the squid sisters and even agent 3 herself didn't want to use numbers to designate the agents anymore,"

"Why do I need some stupid codename. Just refer to me as agent Sam,"

"Very well, I just thought it would be appropriate to use codenames but ok agent Sam. The tea kettle is over there near the edge," said the drone as it led Sam to the kettle. Sam spotted the kettle with a sign depicting a kettle beside it. "Well, that's obvious," she popped off.

"You ready agent?"

"I was born ready," the inkling said, giving a fist pump.

"I like your spirit. Alrighty then, just hop inside the kettle and you'll be transported to the dome where the three other agents are,"

"So these other agents. Agent 3 said they were unexperienced. Why send them down here?"

"Well they were the only ones up to the task. Agent 3 just sent them to do a recon, but I lost track of them. There last sighting was in the next dome, but the strangest thing is there has not been any octarian prescience there but my sensors have detected a lot of sporadic activity in this dome. I'm concerned about those agents. I suggest you hurry up and get there quickly before anything happens to them,"

"I'll find them don't worry Sheldon,"

"Hope you're ready for anything agent,"

"Pfff...made it this far haven't I," she told him as changed into a squid.

"Best of luck,"

"I don't need it," her voice echoing inside the kettle.

The kettle boiled and shook before the inkling went shooting off to the next dome. When she made it, she jumped out and turned back to her bipedal form. The path ahead was full of obstructions, piled up cars and barricades crafted from materials that were laying around but what was also on the path ahead were ink mines. It's as if something was being kept out or was something being kept in.

Sam avoided from going near the ink mines and setting them off. I large conex container and tipped over car was blocking entry in what appeared to be a shanty town. Up above was a plank-made catwalk. How was she going to get inside she thought? To her right was a little store but out front appeared to be ink puddles. It was octarian ink.

Sam bent down and investigated and noticed another puddle, but it was a dark green color with an oily composition. It also put off an odor. Sam dipped her finger in and rubbed it. It was definitely oily and smelled. All of sudden she heard a faint commotion followed by ink fire coming on the other side of the barrier.

Standing up and clutching the hero shot, she was wondering what was going on. Then something was moving around inside the store. It appeared the door had been knocked down as if someone broke in and it was covered in the same green oily substance. The inkling held the hero shot up toward the entry seeing nothing but darkness inside. After a few seconds she heard something what sounded like a dry screeching then...a pair of large eyes.

A large shape lunged at Sam. She fired her hero shot and managed to take down the assailant that tried to attack her. It fell to the ground as Sam approached it. Lowering her octo shot she was baffled by what she shot at. The creature was neither octoling nor inkling but a large fish with bulging eyes, bucked teeth and was wearing green trousers covering a lower portion of its body.

"A...salmonid!?" exclaimed Sam. Shocked to see the giant salmon before her. Salmonids lived in the polluted waters outside of inkling territory but what was in doing down here so far away from the ocean? It started to stir. Sam noticed it wasn't dead and finished it off before it would try and kill her, splatting it into a puddle of fish goo.

"This doesn't make any since. We're deep in octarian territory. What's a salmonid doing way down here?" said Sam as she heard more ink fire but this time it was getting further way. She squid formed and headed inside the shop, seeing it as the only access to the catwalk above through the second floor of the store. Changing forms again, she looked below in the center of the shantytown and saw multiple salmonids below covering the ground with green oily goo. Ranging from chums to some cohocks that were mingling around. It looked like a salmon run gone bad and the shantytown looked infested with salmonids but why were they here?

Sam gawked at the large ugly fish and couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Oh squid..." she said to herself. Not expecting to face so many salmonids before she could find and locate the rookie agents...if they were alive that is.

Back at the facility...

...down in the cafeteria. Seth and Mirage had grabbed some trays and decided to dine as they talked, heating up some rations as that was the only thing that hadn't expired. "Guess it's better than starving," commented Seth has he laid the tray on the table and sat down. "I don't know why you're complaining, you should try the octarian rations. Kelp in a can or if you're lucky smelly sardines," Mirage replied as she dipped her spoon in the food.

"I'll pass on that. I couldn't stomach eating dead fish," he said. "A hamburger sounds really nice right about now,"

"A what? Is that some kind of human food?" the elite asked after she had swallowed a bite.

"It is but with everything dead from the rising seawaters. A hamburger would be out of the question. It's kind of like a big sandwich topped with cheese and vegetables with one big fat cow..." he was explaining but the elite was obviously confused at the unknown contents of what a hamburger even was. "Never mind...I'm sure you don't even know what a cow is. You guys don't know what you're missing when it comes to real food," he said, taking a bite of his ration, discontent with it.

"Theirs better things than these human rations? I would've never thought," she said as she looked down at her tray.

"Yeah well... this is all we got right now,"

"I've heard inkling food was interesting,"

"I wouldn't know...so what do you guys' plan on doing when you reach the surface. I know you said before it was inhabited by the squids. Something about a city like the cities from back during my time. I'm wondering if my son might be there. Sarah said that he was taken by a family of inklings when she...let him go,"

"Why would she give up her offspring. Like I have room to talk since my race practically does it all the time,"

"Yeah you said you're people don't have families,"

"Not necessarily true, we do but not in a way that humans do as you described. I wish octarians would raise their offspring like humans. There's a lot I wish my people would consider instead of getting indoctrinated and submitting to the octarian regime. If there was only way to stop it and let my people see a world outside the domes,"

"I'm sure the time will come. Authoritarian powers don't last forever. Your race will get enough and throw the despots out. Human history has shown that,"

"We could learn a lot from your kind Seth. I hope you're right, but Scarlet has such a tight grip and not to mention the hypowaves controlling everyone back in the valley,"

"Maybe we should get off this topic. There's no since in dwelling on it if there's nothing you can do. Right now, I need to quit dwelling on Sarah, so I think I'm going to go to the warehouse and do some target practice and grab another weapon while I'm at since I lost both my rifle and my pistol. You can come if you want,"

"Sounds great...I'd love to,"

As the two of them were talking. Maxine's unit along with Luna and Star were watching from outside the entry into the cafeteria, peeking around the corner of the hallway. "What's with the human and that lieutenant?" asked one of the octolings in Maxine's unit.

"Let's just say ole' Mirage has a crush on that guy," answered Luna.

"Huh, why would she fall for that human? Doesn't make any rational sense to me," the octoling replied.

"I'll tell you why. When we first discovered Seth and well tied him up. I had to take a gander,"

"Take a gander at what?"

Luna gave a grin and whispered to the group of octolings which made them all wide-eyed and blushed. Star even covered her face to hide her expression. They all looked at each other with stunned faces. "Are you serious?" one answered before Luna spread her hands apart gesturing at length.

"You're not pulling our tentacles are you," said one octoling looking at Luna with a critical expression and her arms crossed.

"Nope," said Luna.

"Wow, I'm getting aroused thinking about it," said another.

"Hey you guys, what are doing?" asked Vee who walked up with Emma.

"Oh nothing just watching the couple talk in there," said Luna, gesturing inside the cafeteria.

"Couple? Who?" replied Vee before she peeked and saw Mirage and Seth conversating at the table together. "That's just the lieutenant and Seth,"

"Yeah but your squadmate was saying he had a big..." she started to say before Luna covered her mouth.

"Shut it! The squirt's with her," jeered Luna before octoling would say something that Emma didn't need to hear.

"Luna knowing you, you're up to no good," commented Vee.

"I was just a little curious...and I'm sure you are too,"

"Look I want no part of what you're planning, and I would warn you to leave them alone. Mirage and Seth are friends just like me and Seth,"

"I'm not so sure about that," said Luna with a teasing smile.

"(deep sigh) C'mon Emma before we get pulled into something. Some octopi just don't know when to stop," said the private as she decided to turn away and not get involved with Luna's antics.

"Whatever, just keep playing shaperone and keep the little runt out of trouble,"

"Hey I heard that meanie-pus. Why does she have to such an octo..." Emma started to say to wear you couldn't hear the last part.

"Don't say that word Emma!" scolded Vee as they went around the corner of the hallway.

As soon as Luna turned around, she saw that Maxine's unit was gone and now huddled up around Seth and Mirage. Star was even beside Luna just as bewildered as she was to see the octolings just rush in the cafeteria without notice.

"Is it true!" asked an anxious octoling to Seth.

"Yeah, I wanna see,"

"Are you available for one night big boy?"

Seth was at a loss of words. Where did all these girls come from and why were they asking him such strange and lewd questions. Mirage had her head down, her face darkened as black wavy lines floated over here head as if this was a scene from an anime. Her anger and agitation reaching a boiling point with the octolings surrounding Seth as he was sweating bullets and eager to leave until Mirage's head turned into a tea kettle, steaming over and slamming her fist into the table.

"YOU HAVE 3 SECONDS TO GET YOUR ASSES AWAY FROM HIM OR SO HELP ME I'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU NEVER HATCHED!" She screamed at them, making the octolings feel as they shrunk to Mirage's enraged prescense. In the blink of an eye they stampeded out of the cafeteria and back to the atrium, running over Luna and causing Star to quickly octo form out of their path.

Luna groaned in pain with her face planted into the floor. Star changed back and helped her up. "Uhggg...what hit me," she said in a daze. Stars spinning around her head.

"Umm...I think the commander got her point across to them," she told Luna. The elite shook her head and recollected herself. "Those freaking inkheads," popped off Luna. Waving her fist in the air.

"Like you two!" sneered Mirage as the two froze and turned around to see their commander, gazing at them with a death glare, her goggles placed on her head as her yellow eyes meet with theirs. "I...I...I think we better leave," stammered Star, holding onto Luna.

"I think that's a good idea sergeant," Luna told her as the two of them octo formed and quickly swam away leaving an ink trail behind them. Mirage gave a deep breath and put her goggles back over her eyes.

As she walked over Seth stared at her, kind of afraid of the elite octoling. "Are...you still in heat?" he asked.

"No...they're just a pain in my tentacles. So where were we," she said as she walked back over toward the table.

"Um...we were going to head to the supply bay for some target practice to get our mind off things,"

"Oh, right...target practice," the elite said as she hummed to herself walking away as she skipped a little leaving the cafeteria.

"That octopus chick scares me sometimes. Wonder if it's just a phase. I hope so," Seth said as he left his tray and headed out the entry behind Mirage.

10 minutes later...Seth had grabbed another rifle out of the crate and inspected it. "Guess this will do," he said, holding the SIG Virtus. Mirage looked at her octo shot and decided that she wanted to try shooting a human weapon. She laid it down on top of another crate and reached in to grab a rifle like Seth's.

"Um, what are you doing?" he asked her, watching Mirage grab one of the SIG Virtus rifles.

"What's it look like. I'm grabbing a weapon silly," she said with a childish voice.

"Silly...you feeling alright? Why would you grab one of the rifles? Wouldn't you want to shoot that ink weapon you always carry," he asked her.

"I wanna try shooting this thing. How much different is it compared to my octo shot,"

"For starters it doesn't shoot ink. It looks a little cumbersome for you not to mention when you shoot it, that thing is going to have a little bit of recoil compared to your weapon. I've seen Vee try to shoot it and well...she wasn't prepared for it," he told her, warning Mirage about the handling of the firearm.

"I'm not the private, I can handle it," she said, struggling to hold it.

"You know what, let me see if I can find something else you can shoot," said Seth as he laid his rifle down and scoured for something smaller that the octoling might be able to handle. "How about this...this looks about your stature," he said coming across a SIG Rattler and handing it to Mirage.

"Yeah, this is lighter. Now this feels more like holding my octo shot," she told him, gripping the small PDW and aiming it down the range that Seth and Vee created a week ago. "It's light but that doesn't mean it's not manageable for you. It's still powerful and it's nothing like your octarian weapon. You can't shoot ink so you have to load it with bullets, and I got one full mag you can shoot with," he said as he grabbed a magazine, he had already loaded off the table.

"What do I do with this," holding the magazine.

"I'll show you," Seth grabbed the weapon and slid the magazine in the well before handing it back to her.

"Oh...so I'm good to go,"

"Not quite, rack it so you get a round in the chamber," he told, obviously baffled as she looked at the mag and then back at the gun.

"Umm...here," she said, giving the gun back to Seth.

"Like this, it's easy," Seth racked the charging handle and handed it to her again.

"I knew that. I was just...testing you is all,"

"I know you're not familiar with that weapon, it's ok. Now that it's loaded, aim down the sights until you line up with your target and pull the trigger. Don't pull if you're not ready,"

"I've spent half my life in the octarian army. I know what to do,"

"And the octarians didn't have guns like that neither,"

Mirage moved her shoulders and looked down the sights. After a moment of getting situated, she saw the target and pulled the trigger. BOW! The first shot caught her by surprise not expecting the noise or the jerk from the weapon. The elite held herself against the weapon and struck the target. A near bullseye, only off by an inch at 10:00 from the center.

"Woah, not bad...and you're first shot. Vee didn't even hit the target on her first try,"

"I hit it? Of course, I did. I told you I was well disciplined, and you still doubted me,"

"Ok, ok I may have been a little critical, but you know as well as I do that weapon is nothing like that giant super soaker you carry,"

"Ha! I bet I can do that again," Taking pride with her first hit. The elite held the weapon back on the target again.

BOW! Mirage struck the target again. This time it was at 5:00 from the center. the octoling was impressing the human soldier and got accustomed to the recoil of the weapon. "Keep it up...I say you might be better than me as much as I hate to admit it," he told the octoling. Mirage having a smug expression decided to switch fire modes and shot a burst of bullets at the target. "Ok, don't get carried away. That weapon can still get away from you," Seth warned her.

"This thing's easy and a lot funner than that octo shot. I may wanna keep this for myself," she said gleefully. Aiming down the sight again and emptying out the mag with full auto she peppered the target before twirling the empty rifle before blowing on the muzzle. "Alright show off. If you think you can handle it how about a little competition. Me vs you in a shoot off on who can put the bullets on the target in a tighter group," Seth challenged the veteran octoling.

"You're on but I wanna make things more...interesting,"

"A wager? What did you have in mind?"

"If I win...we go on a date. How's that?"

"Umm...sure, but if I win, I go on a date with Vee,"

"What! Why are you bringing her into this?"

"Seems only fair since she likes me too...and I'm sure this isn't that serious since we're all friends,"

"Friends...yeah (sigh) Let's get started then. So you might as well think of a place to take me out to dinner,"

"What options are there. The mess hall,"

"I'll settle for that bar in town,"

"After what happened this morning,"

"I was drunk!...and you told me you got over that,"

"I just...don't wanna repeat of what happened,"

"Just get ready to lose human,"

"We'll just see who loses to who,"

The two of them loaded there weapons and racked their charging handles. The two of them shot continuously into the makeshift targets until their mags ran dry, looking over at each other. Keeping concentrated on the target down range. The challenge ended and the two looked at each other and then at their targets. "Talk about a close race. Both of them are covered with 1 inch groups. This is going to be hard to determine," said Seth as he laid his weapon down.

"So how do we know who won? I've never fired a weapon like this. It's just pull the trigger until you stay on your target back when I was in the octarian army," she said.

"Well those ink squirters you use aren't exactly accurate and they do have a limited range compared to a firearm that shoots bullets. Let's just go look,"

Seth and Mirage walked down to the targets and studied them. "So...what's the verdict?" she asked him. Seth was still looking, having his hand under his chin, determining whose group was tighter. "Well, this just proves how rusty I am. I can't believe I'm saying this but...you win,"

"Huh? For eel? You're not being modest, are you?"

"No I'm serious. They're close but I think I had some pull off shots. You were pretty consistent. I'm...impressed to say the least,"

"Really? You...mean that,"

"Yeah...you're pretty skilled with that weapon. Consider it a gift,"

"A gift...Seth...I wanna say the real gift is you...for being there for me and teaching me how to shoot that human gun. It means a lot,"

"You're more than welcome. Thank you for being my friend especially during my bleakest times...Guess it's a date then,"

"We can just go out as friends and go from there,"

"That's reasonable...so am I gonna have to worry about you again,"

"Nah, I learned my lesson. I'll cut back and not show my ass,"

"Good...it's a date then. So, what time?"

"Tonight. I'll tell my squad that we're just gonna run recon or something,"

"Think they'll buy that,"

"Probably not but what's it any of their business. Luna's on thin ink right now and if she pulls anything then so help me I'll tear into that butt of hers,"

"Yeah that chick is something else. She's real flirty...she doesn't know when to take a hint,"

"Oh I'll give her a hint. By the way, I know you brought up Vee because you said it is only fair. Do you...like her too. I mean the other day when the two of you were down here..."

"Mirage we've done been over this. Nothing happened and Vee is nothing more than a friend,"

"You're right. I'm getting worked up over nothing. I won't bring it up anymore,"

"You wanna shoot some more?"

"Nah...I know what I need to do and that's getting with Maxine and her unit and those bumbling tentacles about leaving this place and heading topside. Once we find a safe route without having to run into Scarlet's forces. You're coming with us, right Seth,"

"I haven't made up my mind about that. Not sure where I'm going to go from here,"

"It would best if you stick with us. Being a human. If Scarlet's forces discover you again then they'll try to apprehend you again and next time you may not be so lucky,"

"You sorta got a point but it would best to see what you guys' plan on doing after you all have discussed it. Then I'll decide what I should do,"

"Fine...don't forget about our date though. I'll be waiting," she told him, before octo forming and heading back to talk to Maxine. Seth looked back at Mirage's target and was still awestruck by her marksmanship. "Being a well-trained soldier like she is, I shouldn't be too surprised but still...I need to brush up on my shooting skills while I can," he told himself. Seeing Mirage leave he decided to keep practicing with the rifle after he put out another fresh target. Unknown to him, he was being watched by a shadowy figure behind one of the crates in the back. After a few minutes passed the figure changed forms and swam behind Seth. He heard something and quickly turned around. Seeing no one he shrugged as whoever the figure was managed to get by him unnoticed and vanished somewhere in the facility.

Meantime, it was after noon and the inklings were getting restless. Tired of being couped up in the living quarters they headed for the atrium. Wanting to go up to the surface to get some fresh air. They entered the atrium and saw the octolings mingling around conversating with one another as the tentacles stayed to themselves. Bill walked over and tapped one of them on the shoulder. "Huh, what do what inkling?" she asked him.

"Umm, we really want to go outside. We're fed up with being cooped up in here. I'm starting to fell like we're back in that octarian prison again," Bill complained.

"Well that's not up to me...but we can go somewhere alone and I'll get your mind off things," the octoling said, starting to flirt with the inkling.

"Uhh...N...no thanks, I um..." he stammered, placing his hands up as he backed away from the octoling.

"Back off octopus...he's not interested," snapped Jazz as she walked over. Not taking lightly to the octoling courting Bill.

"Oh, jealous much squid. What? He already taken or something?"

"What if he is. All he was asking was if we could get some fresh air for once but you wanna make a move instead," said Jazz who had gotten flustered seeing the octoling try to flirt with Bill. "What's he yours, ha. Listen here squid. I'm sure he'd wanna get with a real woman and not some inexperienced squid girl that's probably never gotten to first base.," she scoffed at the inkling girl before setting her sights back on Bill. "So what do you say cutie. How about we see what color purple and cyan ink can make together," said the octoling as she put her arm around him as Bill turned pink.

Jazz was getting angry. How dare this hussy octoling make a move on Bill. Seeing Jazz get worked up. Bill squid formed and swam out of reach. "Listen here. You're not exactly my type. So...go bother someone else," Bill stammered nervously.

"Huh...fine, you don't know what you're missing inkling,"

"He's not missing anything you sea cow, c'mon Bill let's head t the elevator. We don't need their permission," said Jazz as she grabbed Bill's arm and dragged him out of the atrium.

"Hmph, sea cow huh, I'll show you sea cow when you're chowing down on your own tentacles you squid,"

"How about you?" The octoling asked Dexter which in turn he flipped her the bird as he and Lily walked by in turn the inkling girl shot her a displeased glare.

"Forget those squids and get your mind out of your pants private,"

"I can't help it. I had none in a while. I can't wait to get to the surface. Maybe I'll find an inkling boyfriend,"

"In due time private but for now we're stuck in this place until our fearless leaders decide when it's it time to leave,"

As soon as the inklings reached the surface of the facility, they got off the platform and headed toward to the ravine that overlooked the neighborhood below. "Looks like it'd be a nice place to settle. If it weren't so decrepit and wasn't underground," commented Bill. "Yeah, it would be...you weren't seriously thinking about taking that octoling's offer were you," Jazz told him with her arms crossed.

"What! Don't be ridiculous Jazz I would never think about doing something like that," Bill exclaimed out of defense.

"Then why did I have to get involved because it seemed you weren't objecting to it,"

"Don't be like that Jazz, ugh...c'mon Dexter back me up,"

"Couldn't blame ya dude. An octo chick...you would've taken a serious inking," said Dexter as he grined.

"How would you know Dex?" replied Lily who gave the inkling boy a dirty look.

"Huh, I wouldn't. It was just a joke," he told her.

"Yeah, Dexter. How would you know?" asked Bill.

"Hey! At least I didn't need my girlfriend come to my rescue,"

"Yeah, because if that octo floozy would've got her tentacles around Dexter I was gonna kicked her ass,"

"Woah, language Lily," said Dexter, stunned with the pompous inkling girl.

"Huh, oh...being around you. You're such a bad influence...and I like that," Lily shooting Dexter a smirk.

"Hey good girls like bad boys, what can I say," he said as Lily moved in to hug the inkling boy.

"Bad wasn't the term I would've used," muttered Bill.

"How much inking longer are we gonna be here. I miss home and I miss my friends. I'm sick of it,"

"Calm down Jazz. We can't stay down here much longer and those octolings know that. We just...gotta be patient,"

"Well, my patience is running out. What about that human?"

"What about him?"

"He seems pretty resourceful. Why don't we ask him to help us get out of this place?"

"Jazz that's probably unlikely. He's part of that octoling squad that helped us back in town and I'm sure he wouldn't be interested in getting us back to Inkopolis, not to mention he's supposed to be extinct and if the inklings see him, he'll cause a mass panic,"

"What else are supposed to do then, just wait until they decide what to do and we all go crazy from sitting inside this inking place,"

"We can't go and venture out can we, especially since we don't have ink weapons and I'm sure there's no spawn points,"

"Bill's right for a change. Me and Lily last night tried to leave but...we came back. There's no way we're make it out of here by ourselves. You saw what happened back at that village near the factory and we had a bigger crowd too. You think just the four of us will make it. We'll be good as splatted,"

"Then I guess that means we still gotta wait on the octolings," said Bill, feeling defeated.

"Well, that doesn't necessarily rule out talking to the human. Remember when we were in that big warehouse after that inkheaded octoling ran us out. I saw some human vehicles in there. Maybe we can use something to get us out of here without having to worry about getting inked by those octojerks that were after us," suggested Dexter.

"And how do expect us do that Dexter. We can't use them and they're stored underground which ironically, we're technically already underground,"

"That's why we'll just ask that human. I don't hear you coming up with any better ideas octo-bait,"

"Dex, cool it. He may be on to something but then again why would that human wanna help us," said Jazz.

"If I remember he was looking for someone and like us. He probably wants to get out of here too. We won't know until we ask,"

"So what if he says no, then what?"

"I got a way to persuade him to say yes," said Lily as she brushed aside her long bang. The inklings looking at her in question. Wondering what method, the girl would use to convince the human to help them.

After 10 minutes had passed the inklings decided to head back inside after discussing a way to persuade Seth into getting them back to Inkopolis but from down below where the housing was they were being watched through a pair binoculars. It was the QRF that traced the flying saucer's whereabouts from what the pursuing octostrikers had told them, leading the stolen craft back at the town where it crashed into the town hall. "Inkstains...reports say that there was a contingent of defectors being accompanied by some squids a few days ago... and I'm also banking on that human being here as well," said the QRF leader.

"You think so lieutenant," asked the regular beside her.

"I know so. That human's tracks lead here and up that hill where those squids were. Talk about splatting two birds with one stone. They won't see us coming once we get up there and assualt their little hideout," said the elite as she put her binoculars away and slid the goggles back over her face.

"Shouldn't we call this in. We don't who else could be up there,"

"Shut it sergeant. I'm bagging my prizes and I'll show that uppity colonel and the rest of them back at base that no one gets the drop on me and gets away with it. That human is gonna get what's coming to him," sneered the vengeful octoling.

"You told me what Spectra said and that she wants the human back alive," reminded the regular.

"I don't give a shrimp what Spectra said. He killed my troops and I'm gonna make sure he regrets it. He'll be another to join his extinct race,"

"You're not thinking clearly, I suggest...gah," The regular started to say before she grabbed by the throat.

"I would suggest you close your beak, or I'll close it for you sergeant. Do I make myself clear," The elite leering at the regular as she was fighting for air.

"Y...Yes ma'am (gasp)," she said as the elite let go of her. The elite turned to rest of unit who were gathered behind the two as they watched her grab her sergeant's neck, startled by her actions.

"And that goes for the rest of you octopi, got it!" The lieutenant directed to her unit.

"Yes, Lieutenant!" They complied in unison.

"Good, we go hunting when it gets dark. Regroup back at the town," she commanded them.

The octarians mounted up back in the octoseekers back in the abandoned neighborhood and returned to the town along with some octostrikers before they would attack the base at night giving them the element of Suprise while the defectors and inklings were sleeping.

Back inside the base. Maxine, Melony, and Mirage were in the office going over plans of when and how they would leave the octarian territory. "How soon do you think we're ready to leave octo canyon lieutenant?" Maxine asked Mirage. The elite thought it over until she raised her head looked at the two octoling sisters. "I'd like for us to leave tomorrow if not the day after if it's possible," she answered.

"You think we're ready to make the journey. The canyon is treacherous. I'm sure there's patrols and ambush points everywhere. I suggest we hold up and find a way to recon for a clear route back to the surface to avoid detection. I remembered what happened back at the workers' village before Melony and the rest of my unit were captured. We can't afford to lose anymore cephalopods," said Maxine.

"I know that sergeant, but we also can't stay here. The commandos are gonna notify octo base about this place and then we'll be cornered with no alternatives to escape. They already have a human in their possession as we speak and their plans of creating an unsplattable army may be that much closer," pointed out Mirage.

"Let's face it lieutenant. The cards are stacked against us. Either way we're screwed. We might as well face it," said Maxine.

"I'm not throwing in the towel, especially not now. We went up against the factory's forces during the escape though we did lose some personnel. I have faith we'll get through whatever's thrown our way no matter what choice we make whether it's we stay or go," said Mirage as she smacked the top of the desk.

"Faith? What do you mean?" questioned the sergeant.

"Something we all need if we're gonna make it out of here. It's something Seth believes in and I'm willing to believe in,"

"The human? Not sure what he has to do with this,"

"Everything...you say the cards are stacked against well I like to think of Seth as our trump card. Our ace in the hole,"

"One human...against all of Scarlet's army. Let me remind you that they have a human too now thanks to Velma's trechery. What makes this human so special and why such an interest in him as if I haven't noticed," she told the lieutenant, crossing arms and looking hard the elite.

"He's different I'll leave it that sergeant,"

"Is something going on between you two?"

"No..."

"How about we focus back on the mission. I mean what are we going to do?" asked Melony.

"I say we leave...and soon," suggested Mirage.

"And I say we need a little more time...we'll be vulnerable," discredited Maxine.

"And we'll be vulnerable in here once they figure out how to get inside,"

"Ugh...we're getting nowhere," said Melony, getting frustrated.

While the octolings were debating what to do. Seth had left the warehouse seeing he was content with sharpening his shooting skills and growing tired. Deciding to head back to the quarters to get a nap. He heard a knock at the door after he ad just laid down. "Who is it?" he asked. "Um, it's me. Lily, one of the inklings," they answered.

"Huh, um, come in I guess," he replied. The doorknob slowly opened and in stepped the inkling girl with the yellow bang running across part of her face. "Can I help you?" he asked her.

"Yeah, me and the other inklings were hoping that you'd help us get back home to Inkopolis," she said as she stroked her tentacle bang. Seth looked at her in deep thought, unsure what to tell her. He got up and walked over to her which in turn she was intimidated by his height at first until he kneeled down in front of her. "Listen, I can't just leave and take you inklings back to the surface. That's not my call...I'd help if I could. I'm sorry but I'm sure the lieutenant and the others are formulating a strategy to get to the surface as speak," he told Lily.

"(sigh) So much asking...time for my backup," she muttered to herself before clearing her throat. Seth stood up and headed over to a nearby desk and propped his head up with his arms. "You sure you can't help me and my friends," she said, casually stepping over toward Seth with her arms behind her back.

"I know you guys wanna go home but...what are you doing?" he replied before the inkling rubbed his leg as she looked at him promiscuously.

"Oh c'mon you're strong and brave. I know you can get us to the surface all by yourself," she said as she stared at Seth with a smile.

"Please don't that...I don't know what you expect me to do. I don't even know how to get to the surface," he told as he pushed her hand away off his leg.

"I'm sure you can find a way," Then Lily started to unbutton the white but dirty shirt she was wearing. Dropping it to the floor, exposing her black top and exposed abdomen. "OK, now I'm really uncomfortable. Look just stop already with the strip teasing," Seth told her as she shielded his eyes.

"Then agree to get us to the surface. The octopi don't have to know," she said as she grabbed Seth's face, pulling it into hers.

"I can't do that," he said with her hand around his jaw. Hearing this she let go and crossed her arms with a displeased look.

"Hmpf, well I'm not getting naked for you. Guess I'll have to use my backup backup plan," she said. She dropped to her knees and groveled to Seth like a child. "Please oh please Mr. Human take us back to the surface," she pleaded with fake tears. Her face falling on his leg.

"Oh geez, seriously? What poor acting...show some dignity," he said, quickly getting up.

"Acting...that wasn't acting. These are real tears," she told pointing at her eye.

"I know faking when I see it. If you're that desperate to pull these antics to try and persuade me to get you and the inklings out of here then I can't help you. I pretty girl like doesn't need to resort to such crap. You asked me at first and I gave you my answer and it should've been left at that," Seth told her.

"You...think I'm pretty,"

"Well, yeah...but, never mind just get up and go back to your friends,"

"Darn it, I was hoping I'd win you over with my charm," she said standing up, grabbing her shirt off the floor.

"Believe me you couldn't win me over...maybe if I was an inkling like you then it would be hard to say,"

Soon Bill, Jazz, and Dexter walked in who were outside in the hallway listening to everything. Dexter was especially unpleased with Lily. "What the shell Lily. Why didn't you just throw it in his face," exclaimed Dexter.

"I wasn't getting naked for him!" she shouted at him.

"You might as well have, ugh...I can't believe you'd stoop that low,"

"Hey, don't be so hard on her. It was just an act of desperation and besides I wouldn't have done anything considered inappropriate. I'm not some pervert,"

"Well, we never really got to talk. If you don't remember our names. I'm Bill and this is Jazz," said the inkling with short cyan hair as Jazz gave an awkward wave to the human. "And that's Dexter and you've uh, meet Lily already," as Dexter crossed his arms and Lily buttoned up her shirt.

"Well it's nice to meet you guys, again," said Seth,

"Look we didn't mean to bother you, but we really want to go home," said Bill.

"So I can tell, don't tell me you put your friend up to this," Seth said with a displeased tone, crossing his arms.

"N...No this was her idea,"

"So, you're the squids as the octolings keep referring to...you guys live on the surface. I heard about you guys getting abducted. I was abducted, me and my family. That's why I'm here talking to you right now,"

"That must be sad to know your race is extinct and your home is gone," said Jazz.

"It is but I have to deal with it. What I understand is that this city, Inkopolis is like the cities during my time. Is that true?" Seth asked them.

"If you mean busy streets, skyscrapers, stores and typical busy city life then yeah. What we were taught in school was humans were pretty smart and they left their technology behind for us as well as the octarians to use. In which both our races use differently. It's hard to believe a human is still round after all these years," said Bill.

"Since you guys came from this city. You wouldn't happen to have seen another human. Possibly a lot younger than me and shorter. Maybe your height,"

"Um, no we haven't. The only human we've came across was the fossil in the shellendorf institute. It's one of our turf war stages when the place isn't open to the public,"

"Well, that's a spirit breaker. I was hoping you did. You see I found out that my son was taken in by an inkling family and I was hoping that he was living in your city,"

"A human raised by inklings. That's crazy but...no we haven't seen another human. How'd you learn about that,"

"(deep sigh) My wife or should I say Flow told me,"

"Flow told you? That doesn't make since, how would she know?" asked Bill.

"Maybe she envisioned it," said Dexter as waved his hands, mocking the sea hare's ability. Earning a smack in the head by Jazz.

"She's been acting weird lately...except a little while ago when Craymond finally came out. As a matter of fact, he was talking to Flow which was rather weird too. Something about this Sarah and knowing you. Craymond was pretty upset by what I could tell," said Jazz.

"It's hard to explain and you wouldn't understand. Doesn't matter anymore. She's...gone and all I have left is my son if I can find him," said Seth as plopped down on the desk chair.

"If this human or your son is in Inkopolis he has to be hiding out of sight or maybe wearing disguise of some kind," figured Bill.

"Being a human like me I'm sure he'd be distinguishable like his dialect, physical features or something that would make him stand out. I'm not even sure how old he could be right now,"

"I haven't run into any strange characters back in Inkopolis Square," Bill told Seth.

"Hold up...I did see this weird dude walking around a few times, but he vanished. Hadn't seen him in a while. He was wearing heavy clothing. A jacket, pants, cap... even his mouth was covered. As warm as it was it didn't make since for him to be all bundled up like that and he was acting evasive. He didn't talk to anyone, even this inkling chick was trying to get his attention, but he ignored her and disappeared. They weren't sociable at all," informed Dexter.

"You think it could be my son wearing a disguise? is that what you're implying?"

"Can't say. Couldn't tell with everything being covered up," said Dexter.

"We'll keep a look out when we reach Inkopolis. Is there anyway we could get a hold of you? like a squidphone," said Jazz.

"Squidphone?"

"Umm, ours is missing. I'd show you if I had mine,"

"You must be referring to a cellular phone. Humans had those too,"

"So you know what I'm talking about,"

"Yeah and no I don't have a phone. Maybe if I could reach your city and come across some clues. I'll try to be stealthy, maybe come up with a disguise of my own so I don't draw attention,"

"Well you're pretty tall. You couldn't pass for an inkling even if everything was covered up," said Jazz.

"I gotta find Virgil. I made a promise to Sarah that I would. I'll just have to figure out a way,"

SNIFF, SNIFF..."Um, what are you doing Lily?" asked Jazz, seeing the girl sniff Seth's arm. "He smells good, it's strange," she replied.

"Smell good? Umm you're the one acting strange Lily,"

"Pheromones," muttered Seth. "I think you guys better get her out of here,"

"So you're still not gonna help us?" said Jazz as she pulled Lily away from Seth.

"I can't say I won't. It'll be up to my commander," he answered.

The inklings were disappointed and decided to leave the room as Lily was pulled out of the room by Jazz. "C'mon before things weirder," popped off Dexter. As the Inklings left out, they saw Sigma in the hallway, ignoring the octoling but earned a dirty look from Dexter as he walked by him.

"What was that all about?" Sigma asked Seth, stepping into the room.

"The inklings are just anxious to get back to the surface. That's all,"

"Like everyone else. Pesky squids...so what cha been up to?"

"Not a lot, why you asking?"

"Oh nothing. Been eavesdropping on my commander's and that elite's conversation back in that room. Seems they can't come up with an agreement. Sarge is wanting to stay but your leader what's to leave, preferably tomorrow. Is something going on between you and that lieutenant if you don't mind me prodding," he said with a grin as he twitched his eyes to Seth.

"I do mind and she's going through some emotions right now. Don't know how much you know about your females,"

"Oh I know a lot about women. I'm a real player. Gotta beat em off me with a stick from time to time. Yep, I was a ladies' octopus before I got drafted," he told said boldly.

"Is that why your sergeant is up your butt all the time. You're a real ladies' man alright,"

"Octoling chicks can be hard to figure out. You got the ones that'll latch on to you or the ones that swat you away as soon as you even look at em. Got girl problems? Who is it? It's that lieutenant isn't it...I'm right aren't I," the octoling teased.

"She's got me latched alright. Don't know if that's good or bad," he told Sigma. "Keep this between you and me," he sternly told the octoling.

"Oh sure bro, I won't tell anyone,"

"Good...so, you know a thing or two about octoling chicks or so you say you do,"

"I might, depends. What cha fishing for?"

"So um, you ever dealt with a woman that went all...psycho and then turned all harmless and carefree the next?"

"Uh...that's a doozy. Hot one minute and cold the next. Sounds like a disorder octarians go through when they break away from their hypnowave influence and act on their own will again, including their emotions,"

"Disorder sounds right. Mirage wasn't sure how to act on these new emotions she was feeling. It got the best of her and that's when she went deranged and attacked me. She eventually came to her senses but since then she's been well... spritely, the opposite of how she normally acts,"

"The only reason I can think of is she went into heat. When that happens, you better stand clear and keep away from them as far as you can. It's not common but there are rare cases. Wonder why she went into estrus by you?"

"I don't know...how long does this last?"

"She can control it if she chooses to but other than those instincts take over and she will kill you if that means mating whether the mate is uncompliant. Did she try to kill you?"

"She came close. So please tell me this is just a phase,"

"Not quite... this could go on randomly...until she finally mates,"

"That's good to know," Seth said with frustration.

"Well if it's that bad then just, you know. Get it over with,"

"Easy for you to say, you're not dealing with this ladies' man,"

"At least you got a girl that's hooked on you. I don't... SNIFF, SNIFF... I can smell you from here," said Sigma.

"Smell? You referring to my pheromones,"

"Yep, it's a wonder you ain't got every single octoling and inkling chick in this place humping your legs right now. I kinda envy you,"

"Trust me. I'm not enjoying this. Do I have to worry about more girls going all bat-shit crazy now?"

"I'm sure you'll figure out a solution human. Well, I'm going to go see if my commander and that elite have made any headway on whether we're staying or going. Be seein' ya," he said in a smug manner.

"That guy can be such a D-bag. Guess that's why Mirage, Vee, Sam and now that inkling that was in here were acting all clingy," said Seth before he sniffed himself. "I don't think the BO is helping matters. I need to get a shower before my "date" with the lieutenant,"

He walked out and grabbed some spare clothes before heading toward the lavatories. Sigma went to go see what the octolings were going to do and the inklings headed back to the atrium. Displeased that Seth wouldn't help them, and they were stuck at the facility, Luna and Star were asleep in their beds, pooped out from their exercises while Vee and Emma were in the cafeteria eating. The young octoling was making Vee laugh by stuffing two spoons in her nose and laying her hand on her head to form a rooster comb as her eyes went in two different directions.

(Laughing) Emma you're something else. You look like a salmonid," said Vee as she continued to laugh at the little octoling.

Emma blew the spoons out of her nose and started laughing herself. After a moment Emma's joy subsided and she thought about home and missing her own parents, staring down at her tray. "I miss my folks," she whimpered.

"Emma everything will be ok, I'm sure you'll see them again," comforted Vee.

"No I won't. I don't even think they were going to come back for me," she said with a sniffle.

"Emma don't say that. I'm sure they would've," said Vee as Emma shook her head.

"That's why I got you and Seth," looking up at Vee.

"We couldn't replace your parents Emma,"

"Sure, you could. I know you like Seth and I'm sure he likes you back,"

"Me and Seth are friends. Besides he's done said he wasn't interested in getting in a relationship,"

"Why not? Does he like someone else? Star? Meanie-pus?"

"No Emma just...let it go,"

"Ooook..."

As they continued eating a figure walking past the entry into the mess hall caught Vee's attention. It was Seth and she decided to get up and see what he was up to. "Hey, Seth!" she called out.

"Oh, hey private," he replied back. Turning around to see the octoling approach him.

"You look clean, and you smell like it too," noticing that the human had come out of the shower.

"Yeah, I decide to go ahead and clean up. It's been a day,"

"You heading somewhere?"

"I gotta go meet up with Mirage about a um, special assignment,"

"What is she making you do?"

"She wanted me to uh, accompany her on reconnaissance before she and the others decide when it's time to leave for the surface,"

"You cleaned up for that?"

"I was just tired of smelling myself. I was being considerate so I couldn't let anyone else smell me either,"

"Seth!" shouted at Emma who ran out of the mess hall, after hearing the two talk.

"Hey there Emma," he greeted the young octoling as she confronted him.

"Vee says you won't ask her out...so who's better than her?" she asked him, crossing her arms and giving a soured expression.

"Emma!" scolded Vee.

"Huh? What are talking about and brought this on," Seth asked the two.

"Don't pay her no mind Seth. Emma, you need to quit doing that,"

"Doing what? It's not fair that Seth won't ask you out,"

"That's his decision Emma, you're too young to understand,"

"I'm young enough to understand that Seth likes someone else,"

"Listen Emma, like Vee says you're a little too young. Now if you'll excuse me I gotta go see the lieutenant," said Seth as he walked away.

Vee walked over and got the young girl's attention as she grabbed her shoulder. "Emma, it's not nice to tell people things like that. I'm happy enough that Seth and me are at good terms and can stay friends. Now let's go finish eating before our food gets cold," Vee told her as she and Emma went back into the mess hall.

Seth spotted Mirage leaning against the wall beside the door going into the office where the three octolings were discussing their plans on whether to leave for the surface or not. Seth cleared his throat getting her attention as she turned her head. "Oh, Seth I wasn't expecting you," she said as she got off the wall.

"Umm , you never really gave a time and it's going on 1700 hours. Did you guys ever decide what you were going to do?" He asked her.

"No, we're gonna go ahead decide in the morning. For now, Maxine decided to go ahead and talk things over with her unit. Possibly getting them ready for when we do leave this facility. They're gonna target practice later in the supply bay and I told them not to touch any of the human weapons and equipment when they did. So uh, you look nice... I'm a little nervous, never really been on a date before." she told him as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Don't be nervous. This is just a little alone time together to get our mind off things. So, you said the bar back in town right,"

"That's what I said,"

"Then I suggest we go ahead and leave. It's a long walk there,"

The two of them left for the elevator for the surface of the facility. It wasn't quite dark yet, the screens above displayed a sunset lit sky as the pair traversed down the trail toward the housing. "Hey, Mirage...before my wife had passed on, she asked me to take here down here. She said it reminded her of home and oddly enough this place does sort of look like the neighborhood I lived in before the nukes destroyed my world and mankind perished. Not sure why, do you know anything about these domes your people are living in?" he asked the elite.

"They were here before the octarians were banished by the inklings after we lost the great turf war. Octavio discovered this place and we concluded that these domes were constructed by humans. We came across a lot of artifacts and fossils left by your kind down here. I'm not sure why the humans built the underground domes for. Maybe it was a means of escaping their demise but what we could tell they didn't make it. The sunken sea scrolls give us some insight as to what may have happened and why the domes were here but not much of anything else," she answered as they walked through the abandoned housing for the town.

"So my kind built these domes. I guess that would make since but I'm not sure how that explains why the facility is down here too. If I remember that place was on the surface unless things had gotten so catastrophic that the nukes and the rising oceans terraformed the landscape somehow but that's just a theory,"

"I wouldn't know either. When our ancestors crawled from out of the sea and onto land we changed and started creating our own societies. The sunken sea scrolls and the octarian archives say we derived from primitive octopi and squid, nothing like our other forms. I don't how but we did. Scarlet on the other hand thinks the sunken sea scrolls are wrong and that we came from humans thousands of years ago. People thought she was crazy for saying such a thing,"

"Maybe she was on to something. We do have similarities but it's not relevant enough to support Scarlet's claim that your race and the squids came from humans. Then again, I don't know,"

"Let's just get off this subject and focus on our date," said Mirage as the two of them were heading out of the neighborhood and toward the old shop at the end of the path near the kettle that would shoot them toward the town.

It would be half an hour later until they finally made into the town, unaware that the quick reaction force was hiding there, waiting for the moment to attack the facility. The streets were clear and no one was around except Mirage and Seth strolling down the main street of the town where they would go into the bar as they were being watched by a couple of armed figures on top of the roof. They saw the elite and the human go inside the bar and radioed to their commander of what they just saw. "What a stroke of luck, get ready to catch those two. Stay in place until I give the order," said a voice over the comms on their goggles.

"Understood, we'll stay here and keep an eye on things," the octoling said.

Inside the two walked over toward a table. Mirage sat down and Seth headed over toward the bar to grab a couple of drinks. "Doesn't seem too much of date with no one else around to tend to the bar," he said grabbing two bottles of kelp ale from behind the counter.

"Well I don't mind just the two of us. I'm glad to get away from those octopi and get a break from all the crap I'm putting up with," said Mirage sitting in her chair looking over at Seth.

"I just wish this was a little more romantic. Like a bistro or at least the movies, something other than some dirty ole' bar. Back in my time something like this would be deal breaker. Sarah wouldn't have approved of this," he said walking back over at the table and handing the elite a bottle before he plopped down.

"Well how did humans court each other. I mean us octolings did go on dates and it wasn't anything too fancy. Octopolis didn't offer too much, everything is pretty dull and drab and you made do with what it had to offer," said Mirage as she took a sip.

"Octopolis is the octarian capital isn't it. A city underground, that's crazy," commented Seth as he took a sip.

"Octopolis isn't as big as Inkopolis, the inkling city. Our city has different levels, everything's based on social status. Below are just peons, working class, primarily the non-octolings...throw aways I guess you could say. Then the middle class, average citizens and above is the business districts and the elite class. Military leaders and your oligarchs, a bunch of stuck-up octopi that knows what's best for everyone down here," scoffed Mirage.

"Where did you live?" he asked her.

"During my childhood I lived with my folks back in one of the outer domes. We had blocks that everyone was assigned to until we decide to move to Octopolis. It was there where I was pulled for the military and went to boot camp outside the base. After that I rose above the ranks and made a name for myself. Thought I was doing myself a favor and then I was good enough to join and soon lead the royal guard. Providing security for Octavio and making sure everyone below us was falling in line,"

"The romans had a group of soldiers called the praetorian guards and the Nazis had the Waffen SS who were devoted to their leader. I guess that would be the equivalent...did you ever turn in anyone for disloyalty?"

"No...but the others did like Nova, that octo-winch. She was in charge of the occupation force over the octoweapons factory. I can assume she's dead now after the explosion. I guess you can say we had a reunion before her demise, can't say she was happy to see me again," she said taking another sip.

"Why's that,"

"Leaving...after Octavio was defeated, I left. Saw no point in sticking around and she blamed me for her internment because I went AWOL, they assumed I defected and were pretty bitter about it. Says she lost her honor because of what I did,"

"Old wounds...people tend to hold grudges. Sorry, what you had to go through,"

"Don't worry about it," she waved off before finishing off her bottle. "Enough dwelling. How about a game of darts instead. Feel up for another wager?"

"I guess so,"

"C'mon then," she said as she pulled Seth out of his chair and the two of them headed toward the dartboard mounted on the wall. Darts were sticking out of the wall beside the board as the elite pulled them out. "What's the bet this time? Another date?" Seth asked.

"Not exactly. Know how to play?" she asked him, handing him some darts.

"It's been a while but yeah,"

"Here's the deal. If I win...we do what I want,"

"And that's,"

"I'm not telling...so make your wager,"

"I don't know umm..."

"How about if you win we won't do what I want us to do, simple enough,"

"I guess, I don't know what you're putting in for,"

"You'll see win a beat you,"

"Alrighty then,"

The two of them started throwing the little darts. It was a neck and neck score for some time until Seth gained a slight lead. Mirage getting antsy was eager to win but didn't tell Seth what she wanted if she won the game. The elite threw a dart putting her close to Seth's score. They were down to three darts each and Seth was about to win on his last dart. He focused and threw it right on the red dot. "Bullseye! That's game," he said but then saw Mirage with a smile on her face, twirling the last dart she had. Throwing it without even any effort. Landing it next to Seth's causing his dart to fall to the floor. "I say bullseye and it looks like I won, again," she taunted.

"OK, I'll give you that one. I lost twice in a row...so, what's your prize?" he asked with a smirk.

"You are,"

"Huh, what do you mean?" Seth looking at her with bewilderment.

"My wager was if I won then you'd kiss me,"

"Kiss you,"

"It's just a kiss,"

"I guess it couldn't hurt. We're just friends right...kind a wish you would've told me but fine, I'll go along," he said. Walking over to her as she slid the goggles over her head. Seth bent down and was about to kiss her on the cheek only for the elite to grab his face and direct his lips over hers. They locked up but Mirage held a firm grip as soon as Seth saw what she did. He pulled off and looked at her. "OK, enough already. I thought we were going out as friends," he told her.

"We are,"

"Then why did you make me kiss you on the lips,"

"A test, I was hoping you..."

"You were hoping you'd take Sarah's place... is that it,"

"No, not at all,"

"I thought we were going to put this behind us Mirage,"

"I can't,"

"Why not,"

"Because I love you ok. I've never felt this way with anyone. I know you wanna be friends, but I can't accept that...I wanna be more,"

"Well forcing the issue isn't gonna change things. Don't forget I'm a human. I do like you Mirage but at biological standpoint. Things wouldn't work out and I just lost Sarah,"

"What do you biologically? What makes us so incompatible?"

"You can turn into an octopus for starters,"

"So...we're living creatures. We both eat, think and breed, don't we? I don't say any reason why we couldn't be a couple,"

"Mirage, let's just say we do, and we jump past first base. We mate, what kind of complications could arise. An octoling-human child if that's even possible or if they would even survive. I couldn't think of doing something like that to you to know that something could happen and then that would be two people close to me that I would've lost,"

"I see where you're coming from, and I shouldn't be so persistent. I'm...sorry Seth," she told him as she downed her head.

He looked at the elite as he gave deep breath. Walking over to only to thrown against the bar from the door getting blasted open. A cloud of smoke filled the air. Mirage was thrown to the floor, coughing as she tried to get up. "Seth! Seth!" she cried out, but the dust was making it hard to see. Her vision was blurred and then she spotted Seth laying against the bottom of the bar unresponsive. "Oh, my cod, Seth! (cough)"

Then she turned toward the doorway and saw multiple armed figures, octolings by the weapons they had in their hands and their glowing goggle lens. They aimed their weapons and before Mirage could act she was struck in the face by the rear of an octo shot and fell back down. She saw one of the octolings grab Seth and drag him aside.

Soon an elite walked through the doorway with her arms behind her back, followed by another behind her. "We meet again, funny how we keep running into each other like this Mirage," said the first elite.

"(cough) (cough) Nova...you're supposed to be dead," said Mirage, rubbing her face as ink was dripping out of her nose.

"Well nobody told me...thought you could cook me back at the factory. Think again, I'm not going down that easily," she said as she loomed over Mirage.

The second elite approached Seth and kicked him in the stomach. "Inking fossil! You're gonna pay for killing my soldiers," she sneered.

"Hold up! Before you do that...I wanna get my point across this traitor. Stand her up!" She told the other elite before directing two octoling regulars to pick up Mirage off the floor. She struggled as they pinned her arms behind her back and brought her in front of their commander.

"Nova...leave Seth out of this,"

"Why? What's this human to you?" she asked giving her a mischievous grin.

"Let him go. You can just deal with me,"

"Why, so I can't savor this moment. Oh, don't worry I will deal with you and those defectors. our scouts have already located your so-called hideout in that other dome but unfortunately you won't be around to see their demise. So much for a farewell, traitor," Nova scoffed at Mirage.

"Get the fossil up too. I want her to see this," she commanded the other elite.

"With pleasure," she replied. The elite pulled Seth up and kneeled behind him. Battered and sore from the charge, Seth jeered in pain as the elite had a hold of him.

"Nova, what do you plan on doing. This fight is between us," she told her, struggling to break free from her hold with the other octolings.

"Payback lieutenant,"

She turned and gave a nod to the other elite who pulled out her knife and pressed it against Seth's neck. "Seth! Don't you dare Nova. If you lay a hand on him so help me I'll rip all three of your hearts out!" Mirage screamed at Nova as she bared her fangs at the malicious octoling.

"Oh, it's not me that's gonna lay a hand on him. Me and the lieutenant talked it over about seeing you two walk into the bar. I assumed you must've been out on a date. How romantic...which makes this all the more satisfying. You can watch him die. I haven't decided what to do with you yet. Whether I should just take you in or kill you too,"

"I would suggest the latter Nova because I'll hunt you down if anything happens to Seth,"

"Temper temper...you're not in a position to threaten me Mirage. If I decide to take you back to octo base I'll make you my personnel lackey and then you'll forget all about that human once you've been assimilated,"

"SCREW YOU NOVA!" she screamed at her.

"Him first," said Nova as she nodded for the second elite to execute Seth. She grinned and took the knife off his neck and thrusted it into Seth's chest, stabbing him in the heart. Seth gave a gasp as his eyes rolled back. The elite let go of the human as he leaned sideways and laid on the floor with blood seeping from his stab wound.

"No...SETH! DAMMIT NOVA I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Mirage yelled in rage.

"I say stabbing him in the heart was more than a fitting end for your human boyfriend. Mourn for him all you want Mirage. Soon you'll forget all about that fossil after we get back to octo base and those defectors are finally dealt with,"

"Mark my words Nova you and the rest of your worthless bags of ink are gonna get what's coming to you," she growled as tears ran down her face.

"Keep believing that Mirage. You might as well face it, you've lost this time. The defectors will soon be crushed and the octarian army will storm the surface and take back what rightfully belongs to us. Let's move out. Get her back to base while we coordinate the assault on the defector hideout," ordered Nova to her unit.

"Yes, ma'am!" The octolings saluted.

"S...Seth, no..." Mirage uttered as she started crying. As the troopers were guarding the streets, the octolings walked out of the bar getting ready to attack the facility and transfer Mirage back to octo base but before they could the octostriker looming overheard was shot down by a barrage of ink. "What the shrimp!" shouted one of the octolings as the bloated octarian fell to the street as they scrambled in their octopus forms.

The troopers converged and scanned around. "Where did that ink fire come from!?" shouted an octoling.

"Then another stream of ink hit an octoling, splatting her. "Ambush!" shouted another.

Two figures appeared from the rooftop across from the bar and aimed their weapons down below. "There! Return fire!" pointed out an enemy octoling.

It was Luna and Star. "Ink em' while their out in the open!" commanded Luna. "Got it!" shouted Star.

"The octolings exchanged fire with the QRF and Nova's forces down on the street. Having the advantage of cover and the high ground. The remaining enemy forces had no choice but to retreat. "Get back here cowards!" shouted the QRF commander and then Luna octojumped down and landed right on top of the enemy elite when she changed back forms and booted her into the street. Before she could try and shoot Luna. Luna splatted her before she could hold her octo shot on the defector.

Star soon jumped down leaving only a few octolings left in the bar, including Nova herself. The two of them hugged the doorway and nodded at each other to storm in only to see Nova holding Mirage at gun point. "I don't care if you two splatted your way in here. Drop your weapons or I'll paint the floor with her ink," demanded Nova, clutching Mirage with an octo shot against her head.

The two held their ground and then something caught Luna's eyes. She saw Seth laying on the floor beside a puddle of blood. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened. Nearly dropping her weapon at the sight. "S...Seth," she said.

"Oh no, Seth!" cried out Star.

Two other octolings inside had their weapons on Luna and Star from behind the bar and near the stairs. "You want this octoling to join bone bag over there? Then you'll do as I ask and lower your weapons," sneered Nova as she pressed the nozzle of her weapon against Mirage's head.

"Don't do it, forget about me and warn the others," said Mirage.

"No lieutenant, we're not gonna let you get killed," said Star.

"I said drop them, now!" demanded Nova, squeezing the trigger.

"Any ideas Luna?" whispered Star.

"One...if we can pull it off,"

Luna leaped into the air and cut a flip, aiming her octoshot at one octoling while Star somersaulted and aimed her weapon at the other octoling. Through their acrobatic maneuvers, catching the enemy off guard they managed to splat the enemy octolings as Luna landed behind Nova and swung her octoshot to clock the enemy elite off of Mirage while Luna aimed Her's on Nova while Mirage fell to the floor, leaving an opening to finish off the captor. Nova was struck and knocked to the wall, but she wasn't dead. Luna stepped over and held her weapon on the dazed elite.

"Sergeant help Mirage. I got this octowinch," said Luna holding the octoshot on Nova's face. "Give me a reason I shouldn't splat your sorry ass," sneered Luna.

"One... you traitor," she muttered, pulling out a smoke ink bomb allowing her to octoform and escape out of the bar. Luna coughed and shot at the black octopus that fled but she managed to get away. "Dammit!" jeered Luna.

"Lieutenant! Are you alright," Star asked Mirage as she held her as she sat on the floor. Tears rolling down her cheek.

"Seth's...gone," she whimpered with her face down. Star and Luna looked over to Seth's body and were grief-stricken. "Seth...I'm sorry Lieutenant," said Star as she started to cry. Luna dropped her octo shot and ran over to assess Seth's wound. "What is it Luna? Is Seth..."

"He's...alive but barely. He's not gonna make it unless we get him back to base," she told Star as she checked the human's pulse.

"The base is too far away. We won't make in time even if we had to carry him," fretted Star, still holding Mirage.

"I at least need to stop the bleeding. Any kind of cloth won't work. I need some material that can retain fluid," said Luna as she looked around for anything.

Mirage picked her head up and stood. She walked over to Luna and Seth's body. Removing her breast plate and pulling her black top off. The bare-chested elite handed Luna her clothes. "It won't bleed through that...cut it if you have to," she told Luna.

She nodded and pulled her knife out. Cutting the top in half and wrapping it around Seth's torso to hold in what blood he had left. Mirage bent down and placed her hand on Seth. "Hang in there Seth. Don't die on me...that's an order," she said as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Let's hurry and go before more of them show up," said Luna. She picked Seth up, placing him over her shoulders in a fireman's carry. Though he was taller than the octoling she was strong enough to carry him as Star held Mirage and helped lead her out the door as the elite covered her chest with her arms. As they came out the sound of rotors overhead caught their attention. It was an octoseeker using it's spotlights to catch the group below. "Quick! Get somewhere and..." Luna started to say but as they headed up the street the octoseeker descended and landed in their path. "Shit..." she cussed under her breath.

The hatch lowered and out came a squad of octolings aiming their weapons on the four. "Well... it was nice knowing you guys. Not exactly the way I would have wanted to go out but..." Luna started to say but what they didn't expect in a turn of events was the octolings lowered their weapons and approached the group.

"Name's Sergeant Kelly...are you defectors?" she asked them, pulling up her goggles. A red sash was wrapped around her neck and dangling below her chest plate.

"Why you asking?" replied Luna.

"Because that's what we are...me and my squad posed as octarian regulars and have been spying on them for the past few days now. After what just happened, we felt we needed to spring into action and took down the remaining QRF forces as they fled back to the octoseeker and then we commandeered it to see if you needed help and it looks like you do," she explained to them.

"You're defectors, no shrimp? This isn't a ploy is it," said Luna as she was packing Seth.

"If we were your enemy, we would've inked you by now. you gonna get in or not. Seems your friend there needs medical attention and fast," said Kelly.

"Luna, I don't think they're bluffing. We got no choice but to go with them. Seth's gonna die if we don't do something soon," said Star.

"(deep breath) I hope you mean what you say but please help my friend he's losing fluid and fast,"

"That's the human isn't it. Get him on onboard. We have a medic with us. She'll see what she can do,"

Luna carried Seth on the ocotseeker as Star helped Mirage. Luna carefully placed Seth on the floor of the cabin while Star and Mirage got seated. Mirage was staring at Seth as she covered herself, worrying if he would make it or not. As Kelly and her squad got back inside, she tapped the wall of the cabin to signal the pilot to go as the hatch had closed behind them.

"I'm not sure what I can do being he's a human," said the medic who was examining Seth. She kneeled down and cut Mirage's top off the stab wound. "This isn't ink, it's too thin...the wound is deep too. What happened?" she asked the squad.

"He was stabbed in the heart," blurted Mirage as she started weeping. The medic looked at it and saw it was beyond her expertise. "He's gonna need an ink transfusion. He's already starting to turn pale," said the medic.

"He's not an octoling. How do you expect to do that?" exclaimed Luna.

"I'm not sure what else to do. He's not gonna make it unless he gets fluid back in his body,"

"I'll give him some of mine...it's my fault this happened to him," said Mirage.

"What! Lieutenant that might not work," Star turned to her.

"He's gonna die if we don't,"

"(deep sigh) Just get us back to base. It's in the next dome to the west," Luna told Kelly.

"Got it," said the twintacle pilot with aviator goggles covering his eyes. The octoseeker was headed for the facility as fast they could. The screens had projected a clear starry sky with the moon overhead luminating the dome below them. Would the defectors get there in time to save Seth and what about lieutenant Nova? The acknowledgement of their secret base via the facility has now been uncovered and there's no doubt with her managing to slip away would stage an assault on the underground complex and would she defeat the defectors once and for all? Keep reading and you'll find out.

Down below, where the abandoned shop was, the little salmonid known as Lil' Buddy watched the octoseeker, hearing the aircraft fly over the shop under the night sky. It was missing Sam and was starting to get really hungry. Not deciding to wait anymore. The small fry wanted to track down it's inkling master, so it sniffed the ground like a dog, tracking the inkling's scent back to the tea kettle. It hoped in and shot away to go hunt for Sam, fearing whether or not the inkling would ever come back. Stay tuned for the next chapter.