Chapter Description:

Phobos has some special training in mind for me, and is getting me to hike with him and his Octoling friends over to Octo Valley.

Even though this is the first time I'm taking this trip, there's something strangely familiar about this...

Disclaimers:
Splatoon is owned by Nintendo
All named non-canon characters are my own.

With two teams of three weighing in, and Phobos, Deimos and Mars able to train me even when the players behind Ace, Chive and Lime were around, I started to gain more confidence with a broader variety of weapons.

Not only that, Phobos seemed to be training me up to what felt like Octarian Army standards - which was a tough training regimen, but it definitely paid off. I was better able to keep it together under pressure thanks to their training, learning to be more aware of my surroundings, and managed to make me at least reliably competent at Salmon Run.

Spike was still a largely absent presence, and I knew it likely wasn't entirely because of him having to lead my life. I usually wasn't that busy, but I still often only heard from him once a week at most - and even then, he didn't bother to actually come back in to see me. I occasionally pestered him to take me back into Octo Canyon and do missions with various weapons, and sometimes he'd in turn insist on taking me into turf wars.

Ace was the one who pointed out something I hadn't considered. "Maybe he's hoping you'll never feel that you're ready to face him," he said while we were just hanging out at the Shoal. "That way he can still come in whenever he wants his old Inkling life back, and neither of you have to repay Neon."

"Maybe, but I'd imagine Neon will eventually get impatient and force the issue eventually," I replied. "Besides, if you were in my position, wouldn't you work to get your old life back?"

"Of course, but consider how well you've adjusted to being an Octoling in Inkopolis - and that you want to stick around, even if you beat him."

"You think he's counting on that too," I said, and Lime nodded.

"You like it. He'll assume you won't challenge."

I nearly replied but felt my phone buzz, playing the sound for a message received, which turned out to be from Phobos: 'More training. Meet me at Inkopolis North Station. Bring your Mem Cakes from Deepsea and wear these.' He'd attached a link to the same site Spike had shown me before to help me pick out my gear, and the gear he'd shared was the Neo Octoling set.

"What's he up to?" I wondered aloud, showing Lime and Ace. "And where's Inkopolis North Station?"

"North city edge," Lime explained. "Last stop before the long ride to the Splatlands."

"At least until the Hammerhead Bridge line is open," Ace commented, then went on, "You'd better gear up and go see him, Jaden. Whatever training he has in mind, it's gonna be good for you. He's kinda why you don't suck as much as you used to, after all."

I'd have argued the point, but he wasn't wrong. I sent a message back to Phobos telling him I'd be with him as soon as I could, using the phone's maps to get a general idea of how long it would take me - which earned me a comment back from him telling me he was expecting me sooner, so I'd better run.

Fortunately, I'd over-estimated the amount of time it would take me to find what I needed back at my apartment - well, technically still Spike's, but since he'd basically left it to me… and anyway, I was the one making sure the rent was paid now.

I was going to take a train at least part of the way, but annoyingly there aren't actually any other stations on that line, so I actually did have to run the rest of the way to North Station - and just as well too, because Phobos was waiting at the top of the steps to the platform, while Deimos and Mars were waiting at the bottom.

"You actually did run it," Phobos said approvingly as I reached them. "I was almost expecting to see you take the train from Inkopolis Plaza, like some lazy human."

"Hey, I wasn't lazy even when I was human!" I protested. "Besides, I had to go out of my way to go to the apartment so I could change. Why this gear, anyway? Just to make me match you three?"

"Something like that. There's more too, but you'll understand. We're going to take a hike on foot up to Octo Valley. I want to test a theory, and besides there's something I want you to see there."

"And the Mem Cakes?" I asked, joining him as he came down the steps and we set out. "Also you do know there's a bus that goes close to Octo Valley?"

"Hiking there will be good for your endurance, and the Mem Cakes… are part of the theory I want to test. But first we have to reach Octo Valley." Phobos led us over to four identical packs, apparently pre-prepared. "Everyone grab one and let's get going!" he ordered.

There was something… strangely familiar about this. I knew I'd never done it before, but there was a strange sense of belonging about setting out on a hike with these three, and I don't think it was just because we were all Octolings.

Periodically Phobos made sure we stopped for a few moments, according to him to ensure we stayed hydrated - but every time we stopped, he also kept a close eye on me, as if making sure I was handling things well enough.

Rather than trying to scale Mount Nantai, we hiked up one of the lower, neighbouring peaks, following a trail that seemed to be well-used, and even had a rest stop with benches at the top with views to both the north and south, allowing us to see both Inkopolis in the distance, and the island on a lake where Octo Valley itself is.

To my surprise, when we were getting ready to set out again, Phobos ordered me to take the lead. "Let's see if you can find the way into Octo Valley from here. If I'm right, you'll find it."

"And if you're not? You haven't told me what this theory of yours is yet, Phobos."

"I'll step in if I need to. Lead the way, Jaden." Clearly he still wasn't prepared to share his theory just yet.

At least the start of the trek down to Octo Valley was easy, continuing to follow the well-established path - but that path soon went off to the west, toward what I recognised as the distant sights of Octo Canyon, leaving me to have to guess.

I figured I'd most likely have to head down to the lake shores at least, and lead the way there - but once there, I found a problem. There were no boats, no docks… no apparent way of crossing. And since we were a long way from a respawner, getting splatted trying to swim wasn't to be thought of.

Phobos, Deimos and Mars all waited, watching me expectantly. Phobos seemed certain that I'd figure this out, but how could I? I'd never even been here before! And yet… again there was something oddly familiar about this…

I let that feeling of familiarity guide me, leading me eastward, following the lakeside and up a smaller hill that was part of the Nantai range. On a flat plateau, I found something unexpected - a sundial. A very large sundial, set into the ground, each hour represented by a stone circle which had a symbol inside - an Octoling symbol representing the appropriate hour.

Without entirely knowing why, I stepped on the one for eight o'clock - which caused it to sink down slightly… and that was all. I had… a feeling that somehow I knew how this was meant to go, but… why? Was this what Phobos' theory was about?

"Would one of you stand on the one for five o'clock? Then the next on two, and the last on eleven?" I asked them, and the three cooperated, Phobos smiling approvingly. As each of them stepped on the appropriate circle, it too sank down.

Once Phobos stepped on eleven o'clock for me, the four circles we were standing on made a loud click - and the centre of the sundial flattened down and retracted underneath, revealing a launch pad.

This in turn sent us flying across the water, up into one of the peaks of Octo Valley itself. We didn't have a clear view of the area we see in Splatoon 1, but it seemed to be close by. I let this… feeling guide me again, leading me to an area with eight trees that had clearly been planted on purpose, making an octagon.

In the centre here, there was just the stump of a dead tree, as tall as us, and for a moment I was also stumped, until something prompted me to reach down, into the top of the stump. I wasn't sure what to expect - but I didn't expect to feel a keypad… or to know what the keys were, and what to press.

The stump and the area around it sank down, taking us down… into a hidden Octarian base. "OK Phobos… start talking. How did I know the code for this place? How did I find… any of this when I haven't even been here before?"

"Because you have been here before - or rather, the Octoling whose life you're living has been," Phobos explained. "Technically, you're not the only Agent 8 - other player-controlled Octolings are also Agent 8. Don't ask me how that works for us, or why I only remember you being Agent 8, I don't even know. The important detail is that you were all Octolings who lost your memories when you, Captain Cuttlefish, and another Inkling were attacked at Mount Nantai."

"Yeah, Agent 3," I said, knowing this part of the game's lore. "But when Spike made me an Octoling, I woke up already in Deepsea Metro to the sight of Captain Cuttlefish."

"And then you, like all the others, went through, did the tests, and earned the Mem Cakes. Memories compressed into the form of miniature cakes. Memories of Kamabo Corporation's test subjects."

"But not my memories - I didn't lose any… but you don't mean that, you mean… the real Agent 8's memories - the Octoling he was before Spike made me take over," I said, starting to realise, and Phobos nodded.

"There's more though. A few days ago I checked in on another Octoling I'm friends with, a player-controlled one. She had a crush on a free Inkling, but that Inkling was suspicious of her - after all, it's only recently we've started to be accepted in Inkling society. To help him understand, she shared her Mem Cakes with him - and it turns out, as he ate them… he got her memories."

"So if I ate my Mem Cakes… I'd gain his memories. The… Octoling who was before me. I'd remember his life? But wait…" I had to stop to think for a moment, and Phobos obliged, while Deimos and Mars seemed to be just checking the various systems and overlooks of this hidden base. By the looks of things, it had been left abandoned for some time.

"You had a theory," I said finally. "And you had me lead us here, even though I've never been here. You think… there's some part of that Octoling who's still in here with me," I said, pointing to my head.

"Can you say I'm wrong?" Phobos asked in response. "You didn't even have to ask me for the keypad code! I was expecting you to find it, but have to ask for that - but you entered…" he paused, then finished, "His code."

"Are we really here for training then?" I asked. "Or was this just to satisfy your theory?"

"Oh, we're absolutely training, don't doubt that for a moment. We're going to the very same dome where the commander - that's DJ Octavio to you - was defeated by the New Squidbeak Splatoon - the place where we first heard and were freed by the Calamari Inkantation. There I'm going to have you face all three of us at once, all of us wielding Octarian Dualies, and we're going to put you to the test. Deimos got us some of the portable flying respawners they use over in the Splatlands - latest model, real high tech stuff - and we'll fight. Whenever you need a break, I'm gonna get you to have a few of those Mem Cakes and get some of… his memories back. Don't wanna overload you with too much all at once, so space it out."

For the second time, I noticed the unexpected pause, and had to ask. "Did you know him?"

All three Octolings shared a look before Phobos finally said, "The answer to that is in your Mem Cakes. Now, enough of a break - we got some training to do, so let's move out and get to that arena!"