Pale summer moonlight shimmers on the seafloor.
An octopus, unaware that dawn will bring capture,
Rests within a trap, dreaming fleeting dreams…
"OK, let us go… The promised land awaits…"
Deepsea Metro
She can hear it.
The song that is sung by the Squid Sisters.
Calamari Inkantation…
Opening her eyes, her vision is blurry and a muffled voice as it twitches her ear.
"Mmn?" A soft voice moans.
"C'mon! Get your butt up, octoling! I'm not afraid of you!" An old man yelled in inkling language.
"Hm!?" The octoling girl with tentacurl exclaims and then leaps backwards by knocking her back and then her head on a rail, leading her to shriek and then cry. "Uuuh…"
"Oh, don't give me that! My Bamboozler will surely end your life!" The old man, Cap'n Cuttlefish shouted while raising his Bamboozler cane at the magenta haired octoling
"Hawawawa!" The octoling girl panics as she's about to be splatted.
She can actually understand inkling language as it led her to gesture with her hands to communicate.
'Wait! I'm not here to attack you! I'm in the same situation as you!'
"Oh, don't fool me with those spells you're trying to cast! You and I both know magic doesn't exist!"
'Dude… What?' The octoling signs as she's communicating with an old man who doesn't understand her.
She then snatches a notebook from the desk and then writes down some words, just to get Cap'n Cuttlefish to understand her.
'I'm not here to hurt you!' Her inkling writing is subpar, but it convinces Cap'n Cuttlefish to understand her.
"Oh. And why should I believe you?"
The octoling pouts and then writes another note. 'Because I don't know where I was either.'
'I'm looking for a way out.'
Cap'n Cuttlefish rubs his beard as he's reluctant to assist an octoling who was unarmed.
"Hmm… Are you sure? You seemed to be less threatening."
The octoling girl nods and then stands up.
'I want to leave this place like you.' A message written by an octoling as Cap'n Cuttlefish sighs.
"I see. Come. I may not trust you, but we'll leave together."
The octoling girl gasps with joy and then nods as she follows Cap'n Cuttlefish.
While strolling together, the octoling hums as she can tell by the tunes which causes Cap'n Cuttlefish's ears to twitch.
"Hm? Do my ears deceive me!? That's the heavenly melody Calamari Inkantation! You, young lady!"
"Hm?"
"You can sing this song! It's a miracle!" Cap'n Cuttlefish rejoices.
This had the octoling writing another page as she's convincing Cap'n Cuttlefish by writing 'I just like this song…'
"Ehehe…"
"Tis okay! Any fan of the song is a friend of mine in my hearts." Said Cap'n Cuttlefish.
The octoling nods and then writes her code number, leading Cap'n Cuttlefish to read.
"Hmm… One, zero, zero, zero, eight. Oh! You're like me! A subject!"
"Mm." Subject 10008 nods.
"I see… I heard something about the 'promised land.' Maybe it's a way out. Now that you're with me, I'd like to tell you a story of a young uneducated girl who became the survivor of the octarian battle." Cap'n Cuttlefish starts his story about a certain survivor from two years ago.
"Ooh…~"
"She arrived at Inkopolis and was the one who almost never splatted in the turf war except for the last few seconds. We put her in for adoption after her home life was full of misfortunes. Throughout the missions, she made friend who unfortunately passed away, but she's one of the few that survived and defeated your boss." Cap'n Cuttlefish explains the story of the one who was known as 'Agent 3.'
The octoling is fascinated by this survivor as it had something to do with her family member's unusual behaviour.
'I had a sister who knows her. She said she was brainless yet courageous and unstoppable.'
"So your sister knows about the survivor. Interesting." Cap'n Cuttlefish rubs his beard as they halt. "Subject 10008… If you work with us, then you'll be known as Agent 8."
"Oh!" 'Agent 8' writes down and tells Cap'n Cuttlefish something like 'Call me Hachi.'
[Update!: Subject 10008: Hachi (Agent 8), Age: 15 years old, Occupation: Recruit of the New Squidbeak Splatoon and octarian, Activity: survive, Status: Alive]
Both Agent 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish gasp as they witness a data update as it automatically changes Agent 8's information.
Gulping, Agent 8 is feeling the chills on her back as something creepy is after her.
"Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take 'em on!"
'Thank you!' Agent 8 signs a gesture as Cap'n Cuttlefish raises his eyebrows and takes it as a thank you.
"Well then. Let's go, shall we."
Agent 8 nods and then follows Cap'n Cuttlefish towards a hallway.
As the duo stops in front of a train, they also witness a telephone that is unusual and eerie looking.
Agent 8 approaches a telephone and pokes it in confusion.
"Hm?"
"You don't know? That thing's an AI that's been giving subjects like us a task."
[THAT'S RIGHT! HELLO AND WELCOME BACK, SUBJECT 10008, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT OUT ALIVE!] A speaker called out of a telephone which shocks Agent 8. [TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY FOR YOU. YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO SURVIVE AND FIND THE FOUR THANGS. THEY'RE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE AND I WANT YOU TO ACQUIRE ALL OF THEM SO YOU CAN VISIT THE PROMISED LAND!]
What in the world is that telephone talking about?
Agent 8 then receives a bag and a device that is similar to the survivor's as it shows some stuff in it like messaging, maps and some tips on surviving with only 1 chance.
"Eh!?"
[WELL? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET IN THE DAMN TRAIN!] The telephone ordered and he isn't yelling which is shocking.
As creepy as the telephone looks and sounds, she and Cap'n Cuttlefish enter a train as they're taking a seat together.
"Want some crabby cakes? The survivor LOVES them as much as I do." Cap'n Cuttlefish hands out a packet for Agent 8.
"Um… Mm." Nodding, Agent 8 accepts and takes a bite, leading her to sigh and take another bite.
"You like them?"
"Mm!" Agent 8 nods and finishes one crabby cake.
With both Cap'n Cuttlefish and Agent 8 sighing with relief, a sea cucumber in a hat is calling after the train beeps.
[Attention, passengers, we're gonna have to delay our next stop until the tracks are repaired.]
"Oh, fishsticks! Looks like we'll have to wait, Hachi." Cap'n Cuttlefish sighs.
Agent 8 writes a notepad and then smiles at Cap'n Cuttlefish while saying 'Don't worry, gramps, we'll make it to our stop as soon as possible.'
"Hmm… You're one strange octoling. I wonder why you can't speak?" Cap'n Cuttlefish asks out of curiosity.
'I'm speech impaired.'
"Makes sense."
Then a train stops as it opens the door for Agent 8.
"Hm?"
"Oh? Looks like the train is asking you to come out."
Reluctantly, Agent 8 takes a few steps forward before Cap'n Cuttlefish holds out a roller.
"Take it. Are you great with rollers?"
Agent 8 nods and takes the roller as she slowly swings around said roller.
"That's good to hear. It's from the survivor, an old model that is the 'Octo Roller 0.' We tweak a few parts to make this contraption durable. Good luck, Agent 8." Cap'n Cuttlefish hands out an 'Octo Roller ZER0' which is modelled after 'Hero Roller ZER0' in the style of a Dynamo Roller.
Agent 8 gasps and then gestures a 'Thank you' to Cap'n Cuttlefish and runs out of the train.
Afterwards, Agent 8 puts her Octo Roller 0 on her back and stands in front of a sea cucumber in a hat.
"Hello, subject 10008, before we begin the mission, it's important to have a weapon of choice and since this inkling gentleman has given you a weapon, you also need a weapon that is recommended on this station. I'd like to suggest that you read the terms of conditions." C.U. Cumber hands out a paper as Agent 8 takes a read through the sheet.
Agent 8 squints her eyes while trying to focus on the important parts of the conditions.
Then she hands the paper back as C.U. Cumber moves aside and opens the gates.
"Oh, and remember to keep your CQ-80 along with your CQ card. They're important for you to use. Good luck."
After that, Agent 8 made it through by sliding her card on the scanner and keeping her device that is the CQ-80, a device that Cap'n Cuttlefish is struggling to get used to, and then march through the trees in a strange forest.
[Trees? Such a strange place indeed. Be careful, Agent 8, the sanitised are not your ordinary foe as told by the survivor. Your friends are not your friends anymore.]
Agent 8's speaker differs as her's is an earphone speaker that is upgraded by her boss DJ Octavio.
She nods and then walks behind the tree under the foggy forest as she's witnessing a single octoling with an Octo Shot.
[One octoling spotted. What is she doing here?] Cap'n Cuttlefish asked as Agent 8bis getting closer.
"Search… Destroy… Kill me… My purpose… Gone… Search…" A sanitised octoling is muttering words as if she's severely depressed and wanting to stop her agony.
[Looks like we have no choice… Agent 8, put her out of her misery.]
"Mm." Agent 8 nods and then dashes towards the sanitised octoling and then swings her Octo Roller 0 by spreading the ink as wide as she can.
"Target found! Destroy! DESTROY! URAAAAARGH!" The sanitised dodges and then runs like an animal which led Agent 8 ro gasp and swings her roller again.
And another swing as the sanitised octoling jumps on a tree and growls.
"Aah! P- Please… Kill me! I WANT TO DIE!" The sanitised octoling screams in agony while holding her own head.
Agent 8 grunts, puts a roller on her back and holds out a Splattershot that is borrowed from the station and then fires as a sanitised octoling jumps from tree to tree and then dives onto Agent 8 and pins her down.
[Agent 8!]
Grunting, Agent 8 is trying to push the sanitised octoling as the sanitised one growls in front of her.
"Destroy… Kill…"
Little did the sanitised octoling know that Agent 8 has a Splat Bomb carried to her.
As the sanitised octoling groped and attempted to tear Agent 8's top… SPLAT! The bomb goes of by releasing a mass amount of magenta ink and then…
BANG! Headshot…
Panting in shock, Agent 8 can see those eyes; the eyes that are crying and screaming for help.
"Please… Kill me… I wanna see daddy again…" The sanitised octoling calls as she's losing ink.
Agent 8 stands up and places the Octo Roller 0 on the ground and then walks forward with it.
"Hey… Live on… Don't suffer… The same fate I…"
The sanitised octoling stops moving and her ink is starting to dissolve, leading Agent 8 to reluctantly roll on her.
SPLAT!
Lowering her head, Agent 8 regrets doing something like that.
As a large gate opens, 2 more octolings arrive and they're octoling boys.
"Destroy…" The sanitised octoling boy with a punk haircut moans.
"Target acquired… Kill…" The other one with octolocks called in a monotonous tone.
This caused Agent 8 to scream and hide behind the tree as she's now facing 2 more.
Even the papers told her that 'If those who remembered their memories will lose their sanity.'
That means the octoling girl she faced had her memories regained which turned her into a monster.
The boys are lucky to not have their memories as they're moving like zombies with guns and are emotionless.
Agent 8 is hyperventilating out of fear, and then covers herself.
[Agent 8! Oh no… I can't get to her!] Cap'n Cuttlefish exclaims, realising that he's incapable of going out there to fight with his old cuttlebones.
[You're damn right you can't!] A loud inkling's voice called.
"Eh?"
[Oh? Who's that?] Cap'n Cuttlefish asked.
[It's the MC.Princess! I was hired by your granddaughter to work with dumbasses like you!]
Agent 8 pulls out a CQ-80 device and types a message to MC.Princess.
'I'm scared!'
[Heh, so you're mute, huh? Also don't be, I know a solution.] Said MC.Princess.
'Really?'
[That's great! Finally, someone to help us!] Cap'n Cuttlefish rejoiced.
[Don't celebrate just yet, old man, if we get Hachi to succeed, then we'll have to take risks.] MC.Princess chuckles.
"Eh!?" Agent 8 gasps.
[What? For eel?]
[YES! Are you retarded!?] MC.Princess snaps and then clears her throat. [Hachi. I may not know you, but bear with me. DJ Hyperfresh and I are navigating you to your freedom. Whatever shit they pull on us, they're so fucked!]
As Agent 8 slowly turns behind the tree, she can see a couple of sanitised octoling boys getting closer.
[Relax. Take deep breaths.] MC.Princess calls as she's trying her best to calm Agent 8 down. [Now… LET'S FUCK 'EM UP! FUCKIN' RIP AND TEAR!] MC.Princess roared.
"Eeh!?" Agent 8 exclaimed.
[Use your damn roller on the one that is the closest!]
Gulping, Agent 8 is holding her Octo Roller 0 like a bat as she's preparing herself.
Then…
"EI!" SPLAT!
A successful swing as the sanitised one with octolocks is now put out of misery by getting battered on the head by a heavy Octo Roller roller and becoming magenta ink.
"Target found… Destroy!" As fast as this octoling boy moves, Agent 8 slides behind the same tree as she's almost hit by green ink.
[Heh! That's one down! Fuck yeah! Now the other one is tricky. All you have to do is to distract that guy and then when you corner him, SPLAT THAT MOTHERFUCKER!] MC.Princess orders as Agent 8 nods out of reluctance.
[Oh, young lady, have you ever kissed your elders with that mouth?] Cap'n Cuttlefish asks as he can tell a fellow inkling with a bad mouth.
[Fuck you, grampa, I can say piss, shit, and ass whatever the hell I want! Fish slang comes second!] MC.Princess shouts.
As Agent 8 tosses a Splat Bomb at the corner, a loud noise has caught the sanitised octoling's attention.
[NOW!]
Before he turns behind, Agent 8 yells as she vertically swings her Octo Roller 0 and then sets it at horizontal roll mode and then charges towards the sanitised octoling by stunning him in shock and then…
SPLAT!
"Thank you…" A green ghost of an octopus calls as he's coming with his dead comrades to heaven as he melts.
In the end, Agent 8 has finally won as she sighs and lands on her backside in front of a puddle of magenta ink.
[HELL YEAH! You did it, Hachi!] MC.Princess cheered.
"Haah…" Agent 8 then lies down in order to catch a break.
[Thank goodness you're okay, Agent 8.] Cap'n Cuttlefish sighs.
[That's right… Rest now, Hachi, you deserve it.] MC.Princess' tone softens after helping Agent 8 take down the sanitised octolings.
In the end, Agent 8 remembers her task as if she's about to face more and more nightmarish creatures.
But why are they losing it if their memories are regained?
One thing for sure is that she will survive.