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Chapter Text

The sun shone outside the buildings windows, intruding in like an unwanted visitor who stayed way the metaphorical time limit. Outside Inklings talked, ran around, chatted and normal sociable topics. With a few Octolings popping up here and there. The Inklings had grown accustomed to the Octolings who had started appearing, mostly frightened or nervous at first, as prejudice would say they'd come back to take what's theirs, they were mostly there to live life, and be treated as equals too, they accepted them.

The sun pultruded into Ochona's room, disturbing her daily routine of getting up 10 minutes later then she should be, her tinted fingertips digging into the blanket with a muffled murmur. '' I don' wanna get up.. '' 

Ochona's room reflected her personality very effectively, her favourite colour was pink, her room was mostly pink, with posters of her favourite bands. Her bed was a slim metal white bed with pink blankets that had some fluff on them, she had strawberry plushes on the bed that hung at the bottom, and a peculiarly familiar plushie with grey hair, yellow eyes and a uniform sat next to her, she couldn't remember where she got it but it was a drone of some sort.

Her E liter 4k scope stood in a pristine glass case with white wooden handles, it had stickers slapped on it in random positions. A veil curtain hung loosely over her bed as she also had a fluffy pink lampshade to accompany, to say pink was her favourite colour was an... understatement. She had shelves of random figurines she'd collected, and a few scribbly peices of paper from drawing books. 

Her curtains were a pristine pearl pink that faded into a cold snow white at the bottom, and were parched open so slightly that the light could seep through, annoyingly. She turned over and pulled the blanket snatching onto the drone plushie next to her and snored slightly as she could not be bothered in the slightest to get up. 

Mira leaned over the kitchen countertop staring at the time on her phone screen. About 6:18am in the morning, Mira and Miles woke up earlier then Ochona, in their eyes she was still a kid so they ultimately let her sleep in.. not for long though!

'' Is she up yet? ''

'' Nope, despite being an Octoling she's not.. a morning person at all. '' Miles huffs letting his sideway tentacle droop down flicking his hat off of the standee.

'' I'm waking her up! '' Mira shot up with a evil and mischievous grin, Miles huffed slightly, to tired to tell her  off but too awake to let it happen.

'' Babe I love you, but don't break her door down.. '' 

Mira shrugged her shoulder and chuckled, her heels thudded down the hallway as Ochona's room was on the left, a messy scribbled paper on the door in unintelligible handwriting to anyone that wasn't her friend or seen it. It said '' eim here, distuurb me and yu die ! >:3 ''

Ochona tumbled in the covers, her leg slightly hanging out the bed, half of her body was hanging out the damn bed. The sunlight no longer bothered her.

She was abruptly woken up by the loud banging on her door, it sounded like gunshots and she toppled out of bed and onto the floor, half her blanket following with her as she yelped to the topple. Scrambling up she grabs the E LITER out the case and flung open the door, raising it up.

She would see a Mira raising her leg to kick the door, the two just seemed to stare at each other. Ochona pointing the gun and Mira going to kick the door.

'' ..Goodmorning- '' Mira smiled.

'' CAN YOU WAKE ME UP ANY COD DAMN WAY ELSE?? '' Ochona shrieked lowering the weapon sighing with relief.

Mira shook her head putting her hands on her hips, '' Well you wouldn't get up if you didn't think you were in a life threatening situatio- OW. ''

Ochona swung the weapon gently whacking Mira on the head with the nozzle of the E LITER, she chuckled and rubbed her eye with her free hand stepping back into her room to put the E LITER away. '' Walk it off! ''

Mira huffed and rubbed her head, '' Do ya want breakfast or not?? ''

Ochona turned around and snuck her hands behind her back, pouting with fake nodding. '' I am VERY very sorry for my actions... I apologise.. will you make me pancakes? ''

Mira raised an eyebrow at the request.

'' ..With whipped cream? ''

'' There's the answer- '' Mira chuckled walking back to the kitchen, to slave away making Ochona the pancakes! The pink octoling laughed victorious and closed the bedroom door behind her and flopped on a chair in the kitchen. 

Mira rummaged through the cabinets, opening and closing them making a bit of noise and found some remaining food items, but not everything she needed was here..

FLOUR, check.

BAKING SODA, check.

MILK AND BUTTER, check.

EGG, not check.

OIL, check.

SUGAR and VANILLA EXTRACT, check.

Those were the ingredients she exactly needed to make her famous pancakes! Problem was Mira had no eggs, she'd forgotten to get them on her trip to the stores. She leaned on Miles hooking her leg.

'' Miles- can you quickly pop out and get Eggs please? '' He perked up slightly forgetting he was awake and conscious in the living world. He flicked his white fingertip on the hat to tilt it upwards so he could see. He smiled and grabbed his black scarf off the door handle.

'' Yeah sure, won't be too long! '' He pulled his scarf on and pulled the boots up onto his feet.

Ochona continued to fidget on the desk tracing her sharp fingertips across the top of the table as she kicked the table leg slightly. Mira nodded as Miles closed the door after himself, leaving to go get eggs, a glorious trip!

'' Guess I should start making it and wait for the eggs. ''

'' I don't mind, as long as I eat pancakes!! '' Ochona snickered and Mira sighed but rolled her eyes in a playful manner. She grabbed some whipped cream out the fridge tossing it to Ochona as the Pink girl grabbed it. 

'' Eat that while you wait! ''

Chapter Text

Miles stepped out the house as he threw his scarf around his neck, despite the blazing sun outside he always dressed for any sudden weather changes! He mostly looked like he was preparing for some sort of snow fall despite that never happening. His Splat Brella hooked onto his waist and he puffed up the dark red jacket walking along the pavement.

Inkopolis Plaza was openly more accepting of different kinds, and they weren't so wary, so going outside and actually socialising was an option to make friends and feel happy. There were a few clouds in the sky though which showed a casual breeze ahead of the day.

His mind wandered back to when they were just a crazy gang of rouge Octo's smuggling themselves into here for fun. It had been 3 months since that happened, thankfully it all died down, yet they still did get recognised  under the name, '' The Boat Crashers. '' It was a little daunting but fun to recall back to.

His daydreaming cut to a end when he bumped into someone in front of him, his senses perked up as he stood back and so did the Octoling in front him, purple, dark skin, familiar face, he bowed down slightly. 

'' Sorry! Sor- Oh hi Zach! ''

'' Hm? Oh yo! Haven't seen ya in a while Miles! What's up? '' The Octoling turns around giving him a flashy smile, Zach got on well with everyone and everything! It was hard to guess if he had any enemies, usually that lead to him being a little.. blind.

'' Nothing much, just going to get some eggs to make pancakes, How's Zanna? '' Zach's eyebrows lowered as he chuckled awkwardly.

'' She's.. good, she's seeing a therapist to resolve her issues 'n stuff.. '' Zach sighed, clearly not wanting to delve deeper into his sisters problems. Miles gave a look back of reassurance, '' Pancakes I hear? ''

'' Yep, ran out of eggs so just getting some! I need to be quick though so... seeya around? ''

'' Right, sure man, seeya 'round def! '' Zach patted his back and walked down the street.

Miles's back shivered. That was a conversation he did not wanna have. It was still awkward after the incident but they were the only living ones who joined them in Inkopolis, more Octolings did rise against Octavio of course, but they were the Originals!

Let's hope he can get to the store without any more distractions preferably.

It took a little walk to get to the store, Inkopolis Plaza wasn't exactly known for having food stores beside Crusty Sean's food shack.  The store was a 20 minute walk away from their residence, it wasn't popular, but it wasn't dead, it was a decent spot for Inklings and Octolings to get their food shoppings..

He entered the store and walked down the isles, looking at the assortment, it was odd, the isles could change from food, to barbecue, to weapons, to medicine, and then pools?? It was really a store for anything. He backtracks a few isles to eventually find the produce isle.

He looks around, from meat; mostly salmon. There weren't any other mammals around other then Salmon, or the occasional Squid. It freaked out a few Inklings but most Octo's saw it as fine, probably due to different life styles. There was milk, cheese, and then eggs! Perfect! He grabbed a pack of 12, seems to be the right size, and at a decent price, 1.10!

With the eggs in his hand he wanders to the self checkout and swiped the eggs, pulling up the credit card to the scanner for it to buffer and pay. The eggs were scanned and paid for, he walked out the store smiling pulling his scarf up. He stepped out the store under the metal canopy over head and squinted out to the floor. There were small patchy puddles.

There was a faint rustling in the air, he darts his eyes up to look at the sky, still shiny but noticeable there were a lot more clouds. Cod dammit it was raining.

Welp, this was the reason his main weapon was a Splat Brella, he whips it off his waist and opens the weapon pointing it up at the sky, and he started walking out the store and the pavement. The rain changed from a light drizzle, a medium pour, and a heavy downpour. The raindrops banged against the Splat Brella, it raised concerns, if he was out for too long, it would break the Brella. He'd also noticed that the amount of people outside had diminished incredibly, people were out, but it's only people with Splat Brellas, or Tenta Brellas, on a lock mode to function as a normal umbrella.

Miles heard the buzzer on the Splat Brella start beeping, it flashed red and that was the sign it was going to break, he started to run and duck into a nearby alleyway using the wall as cover. He panted with relief as the Splat Brella shield broke, to go back out when the shield recovered would be a nightmare, he'd have to duck for cover every few minutes or so. He sighs and hooks his umbrella up to his belt, and held the eggs in his left hand.

His fingertips grabbed the phone inside his fluffy jacket and opened a message to start messaging Mira.

'' Hey, rain happened! Sorry, might be a lil late Princess, If possible make Egg free pancakes, sorry! Love ya, :,] '' He hit the sent button and sighed stuffing the phone away in his pocket as he stared out into the alleyway entrance. The rain was heavy, it wouldn't splat an average Inkling or Octoling, it would just sting them

There was a manhole cover in the darker, more hidden part of the alleyway, it looked loose and not screwed on properly, it was rusty. The Manhole cover slipped up slowly, as something inhumane slipped itself out the manhole cover, something dark green, and glowing aquaish. It wasn't a creature of any sorts, it looked too much like Liquid, like a goo arm. Sentient goo arms. That seemingly stretched on and on.

It dragged itself across the floor leaving a deathly trail of the green unidentified glowing Ink behind, the rain bellowed out as the droplets hit the floor, Miles leaned on the wall as his eyes blinked slowly. 

The green goo suddenly darted around Miles's leg and latched onto it, he recoiled at the sudden attachment on his leg, the goo felt wet, cold, and surprisingly sharp if that was a feeling you could feel. The goo latched onto him and wouldn't let go, he raised his other leg and started stamping onto the goo in retaliation. The White Octoling's eyes widened stared at the trail and where the goo was coming from was the manhole cover, he noticed the lid had flipped up and more of the sentient goo sprung out, like a bunch of arms, he went to jump back using his left foot and he felt the cold goo wrap around his other leg pulling him onto the floor.

He slammed forward on his stomach dropping the now broken eggs, and he yelled painfully. He grunted trying to reach for his Splat Brella on his waist. The goo started to drag him towards the Manhole cover as he grabbed the Brella weapon, and started shooting the Ink. It only seeped into the goo. One of the extra goo hands stretched out snatching the brella away and throwing it towards the wall, and latched onto his wrist all in one motion. 

He struggled to turn his body over to lie back onto his stomach and cling against the floor. His fingertips scraping against the rocky floor clinging and hugging onto the floor to not get dragged, his muscles tensed up as he pulled himself up slowly against the goo's grip, one of the last hands latches onto his leg and with force pulled him, he lost his grip on the floor and his breathing quickened to where his breaths were short, raspy and harsh, his eyes quickly welled up with little tears as the goo felt like it was burning, stinging, and seeping into his legs. 

The goo pulled him halfway into the drain, his legs dangling downwards down the Manhole, the goo circling up and almost pulsing around his legs, his right hand hanging onto dear life, the goo yanked onto him as a little more of his body was pulled. One of the hands moved from his leg and then darted to his right hand holding onto the cover. It stabbed into his hand as he yelled out in pain letting go. His screams were muffled by the Manhole cover slamming shut, spinning and then settling down. 

Like as if nothing had happened.

Chapter Text

Mira stacked the last pancake on the shiny white plate, and finally turned the oven off. She passes the plate to Ochona who still held on to the whipped cream, she squirted some in her mouth and some on the pancake. Mira's phone buzzed in her pocket as she finally opened it up seeing the message.

'' Hm, the rain is extremely heavy outside. Hope he's okay. '' Ochona shovelled the pancakes into her mouth, and when tried to respond was muffled. Mira held Ochonas head patting it, but also telling her to eat, not talk. Mira looked out the kitchen window watching the rain pour outside. Mira pulled on her Undercover Brella to make sure it was still there and pulled her beanie on top of her hair.

'' I'm going to go look for him, even in this shitty weather. Mkay? '' Ochona looked over and glared at Mira, nodding with her mouth full of pancakes, her legs dangling. Mira smiled subtly and pulled her black puffy jacket on from a coat hanger. Ochona hummed a familiar song, but she couldn't tell what it was. It was on the tip of her tongue.

'' Be back in a bit! '' Mira closed the door behind her, the rain not showing any signs of slowing down, Mira's fingers slightly tug on her beanie as she stepped out in her metal heels, her Undercover Brella was a little too weak for the heavy rain, so she had to bear it and walk through the rain, it wouldn't hurt her too much due to the layered clothing. The streets of Inkopolis were damp, soggy, moist. A undistinguishable smell of rain hung around because.. it was raining.

There were Inklings outside despite the rainy weather, they were hanging around and talking, a few even on skateboards, the empty streets which were usually too crowded to skate, were now free for anyone else. Mira walked, taking the same path down to the store, thinking she'd retrace his steps. The store was closed when she arrived which was odd, but understandable, rain was messy and a slight hazard. She turned around and stared at the pavement in front of her. An empty and seemingly expressionless stare.

All she'd have to do was retrace his steps and think where he'd go during the heavy downpour. The water droplets bounced off the puffy jacket and dripped off of her, she held onto the beanie uncomfortably as she could feel her hands tingling, she stepped out into a alleyway to catch her breath.

Her head turned away from the city behind her to the alleyway, her eyes widen and her mouth moves slightly agape. It looked like an attack had happened here, attacks weren't common in Inkopolis, no it wasn't rare, it was just...unusual. There was a carton of eggs smashed, and broken against the floor. A broken Splat Brella laying against a wall, like the nozzle had been snapped and the shield of the umbrella ripped. And the most obvious, a thick trail of some sort of stained goo.

It was a sickish mix of Aqua, blue, and green, and it glowed. Mira dipped her finger to see if the trail was wet, it was still decently moist. She wiped it on the pavement before realising... It wasn't coming off.

It was sticking to her.

And it made itself clear, It was alive.

Mira hurled at the stickiness, practically making her sick to her core. And ultimately surprised of the durability of the goo as she wiped it on many surfaces to clean it off. Her free hand shakily lunged into her bag pulling her phone out her pocket, dialling Ochona in need. She stepped a bit back from the supposed crime scene and her grip shook the phone. She lifted it to her ear finally hearing Ochona pick the phone up.

'' Yo Yo! You good Mira? Why are you calling? ''

'' Ochona, I've found something, but I'm not... too sure what it is. Can you find my location and come over? ''

'' Uhmh.. Yeah sure, Just finishing the last pancake, show me? ''

Mira turned her camera on and flipped it around, exposing her rainy face slightly before freezing, it turned around to show the alleyway, Over the call it looked alot darker, grim. Deathly. That intoxicating goo glowed on the floor as Ochona's brows furrowed in worry.

'' Oh, that's not good uh. What happened?? ''

'' You think I know? Just come over quick, bring the pancake I don't care- ''

The manhole cover banged silencing Mira and Ochona. Mira's eyes shakily wandered to the manhole cover, it had moved. It had moved ever so slightly.

'' What.. was that. ''

'' I.. don't know. ''

'' Get out of there. '' Mira turned her camera off and stuffed her phone away, leaving it on the call but audio only, she took a step out the alley way and the Manhole cover was flung upwards as the sickly goo lurched itself out like a wet clump of slime. Mira gagged and covered her mouth, the goo quickly shot out the cover propelling itself. Mira jumped out the way and collided with the alley wall next to her, completely unaware of it. She whacked her head slightly tripping on the Goo behind her toppling over it. 

Mira pulled the Undercover Brella off her waist and started firing, the weapons blasts sinking into the daunting Ink, it was only making it larger, and faster. 

'' Mira what the fucks going on?! '' Ochona's voice ringed from her back pocket, Mira had no time to response, kicking herself up and deciding to make a run for it. She leaped over the Goo as it made another attempt to grab her. Mira turned around and stamped her foot onto the goo. She shrieked as the goo used the stomping as a chance to attach onto her, it latched onto the bottom of her shoe and tightly yanked her, she landed on her back hitting the back of her head, daunting and dazing her mind. Her hand weakly rummaged into her pocket and grabbed her phone, throwing it out her pocket. Like some sort of tracking device to use. The goo continued to drag her, her head was too hurt to fight against it, plus her injury wasn't very old, the head one and the stabbing.

She weakly fought against the Goo, there's a will, there's a way. It just continued to drag her, the phone laid up in a way where it only showed the alleyway sky, and the rain dripping onto it. Ochona's questions and cries were replaced by silence and a slamming door, Ochona had ran out the house using her phone as a map. Mira tugged against the floor before noticing the certain holes in it.

Holes that looked like fingertips.

This wasn't the first, and it's not the last.

With a final attempt for freedom it pulled her down, effectively silencing her screams with a bang.

###

Ochona ran against the heavy rain, she hadn't had time, nor cared about the time to get proper clothes for the rainy weather, they hit, and fizzed against her skin, tingling and itching her. Her boots making loud, disruptive thudding noises. Her metal heels digging into the floor as she ran, fighting against the rain. Her breathing was sharp and quick as she used the call to find Mira's whereabouts.

The raindrops made it almost impossible to interact with her phone screen, her fingertips tapped as her screen froze, Ochona yelled hitting her phone on her hand to make it seemingly work faster, it didn't.

'' Work you stupid piece of shit! '' She grunts loudly shoving it into her pocket. She finally ran past the alleyway, using her heels to scrape against the floor and jolt herself back into the entrance. She stared disgusted at the scene that had unfolded in front her eyes. The slimy goo Mira shoed through the phone, stained on the floor. The broken eggs seemingly kicked to a corner. A broken Splat Brella.

And a blue phone.

Cracked on the floor.

Ochona stepped into the alleyway avoiding the recent splattered stains and picked up the phone. Oozing out the cracks was a unidentifiable liquid. The manhole cover shifted slightly and Ochona's eyes widened. She went to grab her weapon.

She didn't have her weapon.

She'd run out the house so quick she didn't arm herself.

The same ooze seeped out the Manhole cover, lifting slightly. Ochona slammed her foot down on the Manhole cover repeatedly trying to squish and attack the slime. The Ooze used its intent mass to lift the Manhole, Ochona shakily stood on it before falling off landing on her knee's as she scrapped the floor. She hissed sharply inhaling as the Ooze trickled under her skin. Ochona jolted up but the ooze was sticky, like glue. Stronger then glue.

Ochona was propelled forward and thrown head first down the dark whole with a yell.

The rain continued to dance, and softly hum its silent melody in the street.

Chapter Text

The floor was damp, and cold, uninviting. And an uncomfortable experience to place herself upon. The Octolings breath was shallow as she clutched onto her head. Ochona weakly opened her eyes and spied the dark grey floor. it was dirty, and the floor looked like a subway, judging from the tracks on the outside and railings. Ochona felt an uncomfortable object perk against her head. And then she noticed the figure now standing in front of her. gruff voice seemingly talking to her. But her head was too dazed.

The figure clicked it's fingers trying to gain attention from the damaged Octoling. It's hand roughly grabbed onto one of Ochona's tentacles pulling her up to get a look at her.

'' Oh, It's you, '' 

Ochona dragged her eyes up and clenched her fist at the person grabbing her hair, oddly enough she recognised the voice. They wore black and yellowish shoes, they had semi scarred legs. Ochona looked up to see an Inkling roughly handling a part of her head. She had to squint to make out the person.

'' .. you are familiar. ''

'' It's 3, dumbass. '' The Inkling dropped Ochona back on her face, she yelped as she thudded against the floor. Her hands smacked as she got up onto her feet.

'' Sorry for not remembering a name I barely remember from months ago. '' Ochona bent forward against her will as 3 grabbed onto the collar of her shirt forcing her to look down at the annoyed Inkling.

'' That's beside the point, Where in the ever loving cod are we?? '' 3 had a glare, an unfamiliar one but one so...  unforgettable. Deja vu.

'' Don't fucking look at me like that, you think I know? '' Ochona tugged away from 3's grip, earning a shrug from the shorter Inkling.

The space that the two inhabited seemed dead, unlifelike in some way. It resembled an abandoned subway of some sorts, with large tunnels at either side for a subway to come in and out of. There were scattered leaflets, posters and ripped up advertisements scattered around, and there was some yellow markings on the ledge of the platforms to discourage people from possibly stepping too far out.

There were warning signs on the railings, obviously describing not to litter, smoke, stand too far out, etc. There was a lone phone standing at the middle, illuminated by a sort of heavenly soft light that was cast upon it. Ochona stared at the phone on the pole and wandered towards it.

'' What is that.. ''

'' Looks like a damaged old rusty piece a' junk. Doubt it works, try. '' 3 sneered but also raised an eyebrow wanting to know..

Ochona's feet stepped up to the phone, and her fingertips fiddled around with it. Taking the wired cone off the hook, speaking into it and then dropping it, her hands shaking the phone box before it started yelling. Ochona yelled dropping it.

'' CUT THAT OUT FISH. ''

Ochona stumbled backwards behind 3 who seemed equally as surprised. The phone started talking in a extreme robotic tone.

--------------------------

[SEARCHING FOR USER ID...]

[USER 10,011 CONFIRMED] 

--------------------------

'' User- what?? 10,011?? '' Ochona raised an eyebrow staring at the phone.

--------------------------

Greetings, 10,011. Your current location is: Deep Sea Metro Central Station.

My primary function is to facilitate your journey to the promised land. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

--------------------------

'' Uh.. awesome. '' Ochona bluntly mumbled.

'' What is crackalackin, little fishies? Let us bounce to the promised land fo sho and haste.

I am bout it bout it, so listen while I [SLANG_NOT_FOUND] you the facts. ''

'' Please shut it and hurry up. '' Ochona winced from the mental cringe.

'' Yo I've had to explain this shabang twice now. Tha'ts not very coolio of you!, Here is your CQ-80 and CQ card. They are so bad. Guard them with your lizzife, because if you lose them.. yo no. Now come on ride the train. Outie 5000. ''

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'' I.. don't even wanna know what I'm doing or looking for. ''

'' Deepsea Metro huh.. you alone? ''

Ochona fiddled, spinning the card in her pink fingertips.

'' No. I kinda got dragged down here against my will. I'm assumin' my friends did too. '' Ochona stared down at her legs to check if the ooze had stained her. No, it had vanished, huh.

'' Ah, mkay. I'm gonna go explore, good luck finding em. '' 3 shrugged her shoulders and walked towards one of the dark entrances on the tracks.

'' Are you meant to... walk or go through those?! '' 

'' No. Sorry but I need to find something too. '' 3 lowered their head and walked down one of the subway tunnels leaving Ochona to sit alone. With that damn creepy telephone just staring.

Great.

Chapter Text

'' So you did all that? ''

'' We did. It was a lot. ''

'' It does. ''

Miles nodded dangling his legs off the subway seat, he'd found a seemingly younger Octoling while exploring the subways stops. He'd found her while exploring a ''level.'' Collecting 'thangs,' for a robot telephone was a bit unusual but it wasn't exactly outlandish to what he'd seen. The younger Octoling didn't seem to have a name, or wasn't willing to spill it. Just a number, 8.

'' So there were other ways to escape... ''

'' Yeah, but definitely don't recommend them. '' Miles's skin shivered slightly as he dazed about the trip to get to Inkopolis plaza in the first place. The hunters, the army, robbing that one bike store. The stabbing and fight. His head thundered as he rubbed it.

'' Noted. Anyone else with you? ''

He fell silent and rubbed his thumb, looking down at the subway floor.

'' I.. hope so. '' He uttered looking down at his legs, the faint touch of the... whatever it was, goo had stuck with him. But it wasn't physically there. '' I don't want to be alone for this...again. ''

The train continued to move in utter silence. The other people on the train weren't very talkative, or they were inhumane. They looked almost enough like Octoling's, if you were to attempt to talk with one, it'd just look back. The glasses covering their face to make an already blank stare seem.. paralysing.

The heap of metal continued to speed forward, it came to a stop before stopping at a supposed level 8 had picked out beforehand. She turned the dial on her card and the door opened to the level.

'' I'm doing this one, you joining? ''

'' What is it? ''

'' One-Shot Station. ''

'' I mean.. I'll try. ''

###

Mira sat at a darker part of the train, the lights barely worked and the occasional flicker reassured her of the statement. She was sat by a foggy, or dirt covered window. The creatures sat near, or even next to her were nothing you could call normal, or sociable. She spun the cq-80 card between her tinted fingers, she'd read the already limited information on the card, the phone wasn't any damn help either.

The Subway came to a stop and Mira peeked her head out of the entrance gap in her compartment, the Subway didn't stop until someone either got on, or exited. But it stopped every 10 minutes exactly. It'd been 5?

Ochona stepped onto the subway, her boots gently thudding under the floor beneath her, the card dancing between her fingers as she flicked it, her worried expression looking around. Mira leapt up and exited her compartment.

'' Ochona? ''

'' Mira?- Mira! '' The Octoling turned her head confused before spying her friend, she rushed over and hugged her, her grip cutting off breathing for a few second.

'' I thought I- You well- Splatted! '' Mira squirmed her way out of Ochona's grasp and chuckled.

'' Nope, just dragged down a very.. long tunnel. Dropped here. It feels oddly familiar. '' Mira muttered.

'' Not to me, how long have you been down here? ''

Mira put her hands on her hips, before holding onto a metal pole in the Subway, the machine started again and Mira sat down, Ochona sat herself next to her.

'' Enough to talk to that crazy phone and do a few levels. ''

'' I ain't alone with the crazy phone! Ow- '' Mira gently whacked Ochona on the head.

'' Don't say it out loud. I have a feelin' it's watching. '' Ochona pouted and pulled their knees on the seat by her.

The subway moved along in silence, and surely enough in 10 minutes it stopped, few entered, some left. Mira stared at Ochona's fingertips, they weren't the usual vibrant reddish pink, they'd faded to some sort of purple, like a faint wisteria. Her mind told her to point out but her heart ached at potentially panicking Ochona, so she didn't.

'' We can try a level if you want, a easy one.

'' Bet! Gimmie one. ''

'' Hm.. this one. '' A small hologram popped up. Ochona's eyes widened in surprise, her fingers went to touch it and they phased right through! Mira giggled flicking the joy stick on her card, selecting the first level on the map, a few sections had opened up and were being analysed. 

'' That's cool as hell! Can I do one? ''

'' Yeah! After this though, '' The train slowed down, it wasn't their destination so they sat back down. Mira glanced at Ochona who was now fiddling with her phone, she was the only one to have it not permanently broken, and had some data left, her legs dangled and Mira glared at them, the legs looked.. faded. Mira looked at her own down to the boots, they were fine? Not faded, maybe a little pale, but Ochona's look faded, colourless, or into a slight greenish hue.

She took no notice of it. Mira wasn't going to be the bearer of bad news.

'' Do you think Miles's down here...? ''

'' If anythin' Mira? He might be far ahead of us. ''

'' Look. '' Mira brought up the hologram again on her card. and pointed to a level, One-Shot Station. It had a '...' On the Logo, which switch to a buffer, and then a check. '' Stages are being randomly completed, that only happens when you or me complete one, so he has to be down here. ''

'' Optimism! '' 

The Subway slowed down and her card dinged, meaning they'd come to their stop. Mira flicked a tentacle out her face and stood up, grabbing onto the Metro pole. She stared at Ochona who'd stood up aswell. Once the Metro came to a stop the doors opened, and they exited to whatever level waited.

Mira knew exactly.

Chapter Text

'' Yo! It's like your old Octo-shot! We both get one! '' Ochona fired the trigger shooting patches of Pink ink out, Mira had become Pink for this level, Ochona snickered. '' Looks weird on you- ''

'' You're so kind. '' Mira frowned firing some of the Ink with the Octo-shot at her face as Ochona squealed at the firing and spat some out. The previously Blue Octoling swiped a card on a sensor unlocking the level, Mira walked through and Ochona slid behind. Technically two weren't meant to go into Levels, just singular but there were ways to sneak in.

It looked, no. Felt humid, like a fake world trying to replicate sustainable life.

'' Reminds me of the domes. Feels and looks fake. '' Ochona murmured holding onto the weapon. '' We just gotta get to the end of the level right? Easy! ''

'' Mhm. Look up. ''

There were respawn pads hidden between the fake green shrubbery of the trees above and figures stood on most of them. Their movements stiff but coordinated.

'' What.. are they? '' Ochona was puzzled and held the gun up trying to fire at them. The ink fired and splatted onto the floor in front of them. The figure on one of the spawners snapped its head around, so fast Ochona would've thought the neck would break.

'' Don't get their attention!- '' It was too late as one of the figures jumped down at the duo with a roller, slamming down onto the two. The knockback split them up and sent them spinning against corners. The thing wielding a roller looked.. like an Octoling. Their skin a pale green, the tentacles bright neon blue, that faded into a not so pleasant neon green. With black glasses, and armour. Neo Octoling gear. The Octoling went to fling the roller at Ochona.

Mira shot some Ink on the floor and swam through it, Ochona hit her head on the wall throwing her off course, looking down for just a second to grab her weapon, the attacker had seemingly closed in on her and lifted the roller up, to effectively splat while flinging. Mira swam behind the figure and started shooting, in the nick of time. The roller just barely missed Ochona. The pink Octoling panted and held her chest. The armour repaired simultaneously for the duo.

'' What- What the fuck was that?! ''

'' Sanitized. They were our Army. '' Mira grabbed Ochona's hand pulling the dazed girl onto her feet as she shook holding onto her Octo-shot.

'' Were?! Army?? Sanitized? EXPLAIN THIS QUICKER. '' The dazed girl started yelling as her eyes widened.

''I don't really know?! Look talk later fight now- There's more. '' Mira turned her head to the respawn pad, One of them turned their head creepily, their fingers, tentacles seemingly on fire, Oh shit it's a special. And it's Inkjet.

Mira and Ochona ran through the fake greenery, occasionally dipping and swimming in the Ink.

Ochona had found herself cornered again, by a slosher, and dualies. Mira had already gone too far ahead to call for help. Ochona waited, her fingers twitching till the last second. She threw a splat bomb as the slosher went to throw the bucket to damage her with ink. The sanitized's grin quickly wore of for the two as the bomb exploded splatting them. The pink Octoling smiled and ran off after Mira.

###

'' Thought you knew how to use an E liter? '' 8 leaned on the wall, she'd paid for this level 5 times now, considering the amount of lives you'd get for this stage. 5. 25 lives spent.

'' That isn't me, that's Ochona. '' Miles's fingers clenched onto the E liter grumbling.

'' I can't spend any more money on this level, pass it. '' 8 held her hands out for the weapon.

Miles rolled his eyes and passed the E liter to 8. She crouched and lifted the heavy gun with seemingly no ease, Miles was straining even holding the heap of metal. It whirred indicating it was charging up. 8 placed her eye on the scope gently, resting half the gun on her knee as she fired the charger with a loud bang. The shot fired to the lowest blowfish, and blew up, which blew the middle and top. 

In one shot.

'' I.. cod dammit. '' He muttered under his breath.

'' Just admit you're bad with chargers. ''

'' I've admitted that twice now..? '' 8 silence herself and spun the E liter 4k scope on her back.

'' .. sorry then, really. Didn't hear you I think.. '' Miles shrugged, ok yes he was getting tense from not making the shot 5 times in a row, 25 lives spent, and altogether 50 lives. Jesus he didn't even wanna know how much that cost.

8 stood on the weapon taker grabbing the small eraser like object into her tanned hands, squishing the object softly.

Miles stared at the Object 8 just took, was it a rubber? It had such a cute little design! Was it edible? 8 caught onto Miles's staring and held it out for him to see.

'' We got the mem cake though! It's like my memories... I'm sure if I get them all I'll remember who I am. '' Miles patted her on the back. '' But it's like.. other stages are being done. Without me knowing, my memory gets flooded sometimes. It's an odd thing to explain. ''

'' Then don't. You can in your own time. ''

They stepped on the subway and let the doors close behind them. The subway picked up it's pace once again

###

Ochona picked up one of the shades, most of the sanitized were earlier into the stage, so it's just a walk to the end, it was oddly desolate. Mira and Ochona had figured out in the unlucky way that if one of you splatted, you both went. Mira was annoyed at this fact, and the fact there was a massive cut on her leg. Ochona spun the glasses.

'' Yo Mira, it's like your old army wear- ''

'' I know, that's what worries me. ''

Ochona raised an eyebrow and put the glasses on, they were normal sunglasses but on the left side of her eye there was a red pulsating dot. There was a few lines of code she didn't understand so she puzzlingly took them off and spun them in their fingers.

'' Worries ya?- '' Mira interrupted her.

''Yes. If this, is Neo Octoling Gear. That mean's they're taking soldiers, from Octavio's army. And they're turning them into weapons who don't recognise their own kind. ''

'' What makes you guess that? ''

'' Despite the Sanitized- ''

'' Why the name Sanitized? '' Ochona interrupted as Mira stared at the younger girl.

'' .. They just are. It feels right. Listen. Despite the Sanitized looking like.. us, they're effectively dead, dead corpses that look reanimated. For fighting purposes. It makes me wonder how many people i knew back home.. that were in the army. I don't remember them, but I hope they're okay. ''

Ochona helped to complete the level and dropped the glasses behind her, a jingle sounded from somewhere to show stage completion. The two were slightly covered in the aqua Ink, it stung.

'' How did you get so much Information in Little time..? ''

Mira fell silent as she grabbed the small mem cake, she deemed 'rubbers.'

'' Some of the sanitized aren't fully done yet. On the train. It's like... an infection. Most are though, I talked to one. They're gone now. ''

'' Oh. '' Ochona's smile lowered and she sighed. The subway pulled up and the doors opened, Mira stepped in as Ochona's mind snapped out of daydreaming, questions, possibilities and answers. She stepped on the Subway, the doors closed and it sped off.

It was an oddly psychological conversation Ochona wasn't really sure she wanted to have. On the Subway she stared into the darker stations. Staring at the Sanitized who stared back. They faintly glowed in the dark. She noticed a few who didn't, damn. She wanted to glow.

She slumped onto the seat next to Mira.

'' Sorry for getting annoyed, just didn't like the uh.. splatting feeling and respawning. '' Mira pulled her knees up on the subway, she leaned her head on the wall and rubbed her eyes, it was noticeable that somepoint while she was down here she'd been crying. And was tired.

'' Ay, it's fine, no worries.. uh, take a break for a bit. ''

The subway stopped again 4 minutes later.

Chapter Text

They stepped onto the subway and the doors closed behind them once again as the subway sped off to wherever next it was heading. Ochona sat next to the vaguely sleeping Mira on the seat next to her. She glanced quickly at the subway doors to see who'd entered. Another pinkish Octoling, with semi tanned skin, soft eyes and curves. And a more paleish, white inked Octoling, with his hair swept to the side, and with a hat on.

'' Miles?! ''

'' Ochona? Ochona! '' He wandered over quickly slipping and sliding, the Octoling followed behind. '' I thought it was just me! ''

'' No! Mira went looking for you, got dragged, I saw her get dragged so I went looking for HER, and I got dragged! '' Ochona laughed as she sat on the subway seat next to Mira who'd curled up slightly. '' She's tuckered out..! ''

Miles and the Pink friend he brought sat on the subway seats.

'' Who's that too? '' Ochona looked 8 up and down. ''

'' I do not have a name, but I was given 8, so I'll say 8. '' 8's ears rung to herself and her hands sweated slightly. From the observations Ochona could tell she wasn't the sociable type, she shrugged it off and gently bounced up and down on the seat. Ochona took the rubber she had sneakily stolen from Mira while sleeping and looked at that. 8's ears flicked up as she noticed the object.

'' Oh my cod! You have a Mem cake, my memories! So that explains the random.. memories.. ''

'' Oh so that's what these were.. lucky I didn't eat one- '' She chucked the thing to 8 who quickly caught it and held it protectively, her fingers clenching around it tightly.

The journey continued in silence for about a few minutes as Ochona flicked through her destinations hologram thingy. She had vaguely got the hang of it.

'' By the way, any clue what we're meant to be doing?? Phone didn't do shit to help.. ''

Miles's legs dangled gently lifting and dropping dust.

'' This phone... wants us to collect Thangs. 8 has one, I got one, two more. It promises to take us back to Inkopolis plaza... again. '' He responded with a hush, like talking about this topic was foreign and forbidden. Like an utter curse.

'' What a bunch'a shrimp. We got there all without it, what's stoppin' us from going on our own?? ''

'' Sanitized. '' 8 mumbled, to which Ochona nodded gently, yes that was something to be fair..

Ochona rocked back and forth on the seats, miles had stared into nothingness. 8 had fiddled with the cq-80 and selected a different stage. Her fingers delicately tracing the seemingly plastic frame.

'' Thang's coming up. I'm gonna go grab it! ''

Ochona nodded before briefly staring at her legs. They looked off colour. Paler. Eh whatever.

The subway stopped briefly, the power shut off and the doors opened. 8 muttered a curse in Octarian and stood up exiting the subway to a level. Once the doors of the grimy transport closed the lights stayed off. Oh squit. This was great. The trio who'd been left now were all one way or another glowing. Mira was asleep so it was fainter, softer and more dull glow in her rings.

Ochona who was the more bright and chipper member glowed so bright you could consider her a nightlight. Her fingertips, eyes, rings on her tentacles and her skin had a faint pinkish hue to it. She stared at her fingers in the dark and giggled flexing them around.

Miles crossed his legs over, he didn't glow as bright as Ochona, but he was still a considerably bright Octoling as his Ink was white, which lead to some seeing him as a flashlight. His fingertips glowed. And since he had very hidden rings they glowed but a soft grey. his eyes were almost faded but still contributed. Other passengers were glowing due to the naturally low amount of sunlight down below, bioluminescence was on top.

'' Do you think the phone's actually going to help us? '' Miles mumbled to Ochona turning his head slowly to meet her hyper gaze.

'' Probably, Yo I mean- It's old as shit, knows a few things I hope! ''

She put her hand on his shoulder and patted it, it wouldn't do a lot but it was the most reassurance she could offer right now. Mira's eyes flickered open as she looked at the seeming void that replaced the floor. She raised her arm rubbing her eyes, Ochona's head darted and wrapped her arms around Mira before pulling her up, the not so appreciative Octoling was tugged up.

'' Why'sit.. so dark 'n... squit.. Oh hey I'm glowin.' '' Mira dragged her hands up and her head leaned to the side, she was definetly a person who could fall asleep, not one to wake up though. Ochona shook her shoulder.

'' Guess who came? ''

'' Wh..o? ''

'' Your Boyfriend!! He showed up! '' Ochona got up and switched seats to slightly squish the awkward white Octoling up to the not so awake Mira. Ochona needed a break from being in between the two, this was just an excuse to get more space, and a free metal bar to lean on! The Pink Octoling pulled her knees to her chest and rested her arm on the bar laying her head on it. 

She could hear vague conversations from Mira and Miles, appreciate, talking, planning? It was too dark, and she was way too comfortable to drag her head up to listen... but eavesdropping is a thing! 

'' So agent 9 huh? I like it! '' 

'' And if I'm the.. unofficial 'Agent 9.' Then you're the Unofficial 'Agent 10.' hm? '' He tilted his head to the side almost as if looking for a response, like a question she was asking.

'' Yeah! It'll work, c'mere 9- '' 

Oh cod these nicknames were gonna get so old so fast.

Mira leaned against the wall and slightly pulled Miles up next to her, gently holding the white Octoling behind the back and his waist. Her head leaned on his and his leaned against the window, making some sort of holder so Mira could effectively snuggle up against him. Ochona lifted her head after a few minutes of it going quiet staring at the two.

'' Heh, light blue ink, '' She chuckled to herself and stretched her legs out slightly, not to potentially disturb anyone, but to also warrant anyone sitting near them!

The subway seemed to be going slower, despite it's face pace everything seemed to slow down, the doors opened.

Chapter Text

They were all so happy.

It felt a little sickening.

The older Inkling had been watching from afar from quite some time, sneaking into level's they shouldn't, rigging stuff to make it more challenging. And time and time again they pushed through. It was almost like their efforts were futile.

But at the same time there was a sense of achievement, and feeling proud of that same group, granted they'd hadn't been the friendliest person to Ochona when they first met but it was purely due to heightened senses and an unwastable feeling of anxiety etched into their mind.

This same group, outran the hunters, their own army, hijacked a cod damn boat. And managed to live sneakily under Inkopolis's eye. Now there's more who are following in the paths of them. They even had a name now. Octogods. They needed a better name. It was almost disheartening to see them in the Deepsea Metro, back down where they fought to get out of.

Well they did it once, they can get back out. 

This place doesn't feel entirely safe, nor normal 3 feared. It wasn't a visible fear you could see, they'd made sure that wouldn't happen.

But it was a fear.

3 wondered what it was like to have friends that cared that much, then again they did have that. They had 4, but they'd been away from her from a while they were doubting it, the Pink Octoling had their eye though, and not Ochona. The darker skinned one.

3 stood up, their sneakers squeaking slightly, they kicked the platform on them and turned to walk away from the steps.

Chapter Text

8 walked back onto the subway, despite her heels clicking against the floor she was effectively as silent as a mouse. The lights were back on and Ochona was leaning on the metal bar on her phone, Mira had woken up but she couldn't move Miles off her so she sat! One because he was sleeping, two because he was physically laying on her arm so there's that.

'' Oh, hey 8, you got the Thingy-majig? '' Ochona lifted her eye's to meet 8's.

'' Yep! Just one more till I can see that blessed Promised land. I can almost feel it!.

'' We'll join ya, not sure how other way we can get outta here- ''

The two chuckled as Ochona moved her legs to let 8 sit down, the girl sat next to her. Her cheerful smile being replaced by a small stern one.

'' I feel as if I'm being followed though. I look up sometimes to the end of the station. And there's something standing atop, every time I look it runs. ''

'' Damn, freaky stalker situation, long as it don't get too near ya, you're good! You have weapons too! '' Ochona cocked her fingers into a gun shape, pretending to shoot an unknowing sanitized on the train, it returned a moody stare two seconds later.

'' True, true. ''

The thing following 8 felt faster then her, sharper senses and reaction time. Like it could evade perfectly and attack mercilessly if it wanted to. Her fingers fidgeted with the remote. She looked to the couple next to her and choked out a small chuckle.

'' Have you been here sleeping the entire time? ''

'' Well them two, slept for bout 27 minutes, he's still asleep, No idea how long we've all been sleeping for! '' Ochona switched her phone off and held her cq-80 card. she looked at it. Flicking it occasionally. '' I wanna try a level.. on my own. ''

8 shrugged her shoulder.

'' Do it then, no one's stopping you, '' she responded.

Ochona stared at the holographic picture and flicked her thumb against the joy stick, staring at a certain level. 

'' Hm. Duh-oh station. ''

'' Ooh.. that's a hard one, good luck if you do.. ''

'' I've survived Inkling made horrors, an entire boat chase and a stabbing, I'll be absolutely fine! '' Ochona boasted and selected the level, the subway came to a halt quickly and the doors opened, 8 waved the confident pink Octoling out and the doors closed.

The machine started up again and headed off, it was mostly in silence for the journey, Mira stroked one of Miles's tentacles with her fingers, her arm slightly numb from the pressure, 8 looked over and softly smiled,

'' You two are very close. What is it like up there, do they still despise us? ''

Mira sat up briefly pulling Miles up as well. She pondered for a second, '' They don't despise us, we sorta like were the reason for Octolings changing shifts and getting up, '' She chuckled before adding, '' And that song from the Squid Sisters too- ''

'' That song is musical harmony! I love studying music, it is like.. a delicious meal for my ears, hah! ''

'' It was an absolute screeching shrill for me, '' Mira cupped her ear, sure the music was nice, but it was so foreign to her it sounded horrible. Maybe bad music set her straight to living good. ''

'' Preferences I suppose! It is such a sweet melody to me...I hold it very dear. ''

Mira nodded, one squids trash was another's treasure she supposed. 

'' Were you in the Army? You look recognisable. ''

The question threw Mira off guard briefly, she had the uniform for the army, she had the training and she experience of being in the army, even if it was a few weeks...

'' Yeah, but I'd rather not talk about it- ''

'' Were you the one that set off the splat bomb in the middle of training? ''

''...yes- ''

'' Set off the loaded Splatling's too because you tripped? ''

Mira groaned and rubbed her head with her free hand, okay yes she did do all that, but it wasn't on purpose! '' Yes, accidental jeez- you stalking me? ''

'' No, we were in the same unit. ''

Mira's heart dropped, she'd never expect she'd run into someone from her unit, or anyone from down to be honest. She'd remembered someone who looked vaguely a lot like 8, except she had purplish ink.

'' Oh.. wait, were you the one with purple Ink and the really bad eyeliner?- ''

8 slammed onto the subway seats alerting a few passengers, '' My eyeliner was done correctly and fine!- '' 8 deflected the poor eyeliner statement, to be fair she was still learning but it was decent!

'' Gotcha! Good to have ya Hachi- ''

8 raised an eyebrow at the foreign name, '' Hachi? My name's 8. ''

Mira froze, her body tensing up as she felt sweat on her free hand. she wiped it against the train seat. Okay maybe she didn't remember anything from the Army, or that music snapped her into a weird... state.

'' Sorry, sounded uh- similar to someone else- pre assigned names. ''

8 nodded slowly and rocked her legs back and forth mid way, gently grazing the floor.

Mira wiped the sweat off her hands again, her heartbeat sped up ever so slightly, so she really didn't know her own name? Maybe she had delved way much deeper into the army then she'd thought. her head snapped back up hearing 8's voice.

'' I'm very sorry, but what was your name? I need to relearn it.. ''

'' Mira, apparently I'm an Unofficial 'Agent 9' though, call me Mira, 9 for short- '' Mira rolled her eyes at the agent part, there's absolutely no way she'd deserve an Agent role.

8 nodded, fiddling and semi twisting her fingers.

'' Mira, sounds lovely. ''

Chapter Text

She won't stop.

Oh cod she won't stop.

That little pink Octoling, not the toned one, the more pale, scarred. Goggles that might be a bit to big on her forehead. Ochona her name was? She's such a feirce spirit. She's died 'bout 6 times now but she refuses to leave this stage. Is it stupidity or persevering? She knows neither.

I've seen 'er attempt this stage for about half an hour, I don't know whether to help her or just keep looking.

I shouldn't interfere with the tests.

I should only help them figure out how to get out faster.

Even if that requires a little meddling.

Chapter Text

'' So it's a blender. ''

'' I've never seen a 'blender' before. ''

Miles held his fingers up to his face, clenching them with little force, his chest heaves as he takes a small breathe out.

'' So you've been collecting these parts, to go back above, that right? '' He stared at 8 who sat with seemingly no idea how that was wrong. She nodded. '' Blenders.. shred stuff up. ''

8 raised an eyebrow up, like this wasn't a problem, her wide eyes stared up, unblinking.

The silence flooded throughout the subway, he sat back down on the cushion, his hands draping over his knees slightly. The subway came to a halt and a not so happy Ochona stepped onto the metro. She spat out some of the aqua Ink and threw the mem cake at 8, who stumbled to catch it in her fingers. 8 stared up at Ochona, her boots drenched almost in the aqua ink, her tentacles even faded to a greenish hue on the tips.

'' Don't ever. ever. Let me pick a station ever again. ''

Mira burst out laughing looking at the drenched girl. Ochona stared at her and grabbed her skirt, wringing some of the ink out onto her hand, while Mira giggled Ochona walked to Mira and dropped the semi warm puddle of Ink onto her head. Mira yelped and shook her hair trying to take the Ink off.

'' Sharing is caring! ''

Miles held his hand to his face chuckling as the pink Octoling budged her way to sit down slightly next to to the group. Her face in an upside down smile as she occasionally flicked Ink that seemed to never stop dripping from her. Ochona stared down at her fingertips.

They looked off and even felt off. 

The colour looked different, Danube. How she even remembered that was a colour was beyond her, she came to the conclusion of the Ink affecting her. Mira shook most of the ink off her hair and frowned.

'' Where do you think you'll go next? ''

'' Somewhere where there's no enemies. '' Ochona pouted.

Mira fiddled with her cq-80 card. Looking at a station. '' How about Girl Power? ''

8 returned a surprised gaze and then her grip tightened on the mem cake in her hand, sweat trickling out her toned skin, but was unnoticeable if you didn't stare at her for too long. '' You sure you'll be fine with that! ''

'' I'll go with Ochona! It's just protecting something, how bad can it be! '' Mira's hand wrapped around Ochona's shoulder with a semi tight squeeze. Ochona mumbled a slight piss off, at Mira but still, her frown changed to a slight chuckle.

Miles fidgeted with the joystick of his device. His boots semi sliding off, and then back on by tapping the floor gently. '' I'll try an 8 ball station? ''

'' Thoughts and prayers, you're going to need that. '' * mumbled under her breath as she stood up, holding onto the oddly moist metal bar.

The subway came to a halt at multiple stations, first 8's. She waved goodbye, Mira turned around and stroked Miles's thumb with her own as she sat down, leaning on his shoulder, she looked up to him slowly, her back arched. It felt so quiet, so calm. Nothing was happening, like an eerie but almost relaxing silence. Before it came to an abrupt halt of the subway stopping.

'' If you two start making out, I'm actually gonna throw up. '' Ochona gagged as she stood up holding onto the metal bar, Mira's face flushed a slight hue of blue and Ochona took her hand.

'' We were- not!- ''

'' Whatever BlueBlush, TO A LEVEL! '' Ochona swung out the metro unfortunately a tumbling Mira fell behind her out the doors due to swinging and being physically pulled, leaving Miles to his own thoughts.

He decided to send the subway back to the beginning, the entrance, and the central point of the Deepsea metro.

The ride back was comfortable, he crossed his legs over; mostly to get a better look at his skin. It had felt like heat was gently being pressed against it. It wasn't enough to distract, just a slight disorient. Someone sat next to him. A sanitized. But it looked a lot stronger, taller, scarred. With the top of her supposed tentacles being pitch black and faded into a neon green.

The glasses instead of having a red stare has some sort of a scarlet glow protruding from the lenses. From this angle Miles could faintly see the back of the glasses, it looked like those fancy hacking scenes you'd see in movies, screens with code and information hanging from the sides. The glasses had kelp like waves also protrude from the top.

Elite Octolings weren't a thing to joke about back home, Normal Octarian soldiers, everyone knew them, the Elite were the best of the best. And now, the best of the best were mindless machines, sent out to destroy whatever goal they'd been sent on. The armour the Elite had was similar to a normal Octarians, just armed with more weapons.

Her arm had a wristband on it in yellow, to guess which was which he'd suppose.

L.

L's short for something.

The subway came to a stop and he stood up, his footsteps thudding silently as he walked from his section to the exit.

Oh god eyes were everywhere. 

A shiver shot up his spine as he felt the Elite's eyes on him, granted he had just been staring at her for the past 10 minutes, which seemingly felt like nothing. But it felt like every single living being on that train was judging the way he walked, every single step and every short term decision.

He stepped off the subway, the metal flats of the shoe smacking with the tiles of the subway, the phone still stood there next to the seemingly partially assembled blender. He stepped closer to it looking the contraption up and down. His hands reaching out to touch it.

'' Don't touch it. ''

His heartbeat shot up, the tone was too firm to be the telephone, his head turned around to spy a yellow Inkling, own he originally knew. 

'' Miles, was it. '' He nodded.

'' 3, wasn't it? ''

3 nodded and walked up next to him. Their hands fiddled with one of the buttons, turning and pushing the dials. There was a slight gap which looked like it'd open up to be a secret door of some sorts.

'' Hypocrisy. '' He muttered under his breath.

3 ignored the comment. All that was left to put on was the top of the blender.

'' Y'know what this is? ''

Miles's hands crossed, '' A blender. ''

3 turned around to face him, fiddling with the top of their jacket subtly. '' Exactly, that ain't gonna get you to Inkopolis, y'know? ''

'' I know. But I- ''

'' But you what? '' 3 cut him off. '' It's going to splat- '' 3 turned around quickly to look at the telephone, it didn't seem to be listening.

'' Y'know. ''

He tapped his heel against the tiled floor. '' Yeah but we've come too far to turn back. At most we'll build it, see what it does. ''

3 glared at him, he couldn't tell if they were disappointed or annoyed. Both would be horrible.

'' Not saying I'm getting into it. Absolutely not. ''

Their gaze softened as they shrugged their shoulders, clicking it. '' Well, that's your choice. ''

'' They're gettin stronger though, '' Stronger? What'd that mean. He raised his eyebrow to 3, who'd already started walking away.

'' Your previous Army. ''

Oh yeah.

'' We don't.. associate with them anymore. '' He croaked out.

'' No you don't, but you weren't a part with that. Check with the girls though. The sanitized are looking for 'em. ''

He stepped forward yelling, not enough to be seen as a threat, but enough to be wary. '' Who's looking for them? Why?! ''

They pulled up their trainers lightly and walked away, to the other side of the metro before softly stopping at a door.

'' The pink one, Ochona. Exceptional at fighting ain't she? '' 3 paused turning around. Their face a cold stare.

He'd figured he was looking at a quiet storm, and he was staring at the eye.

'' And the blue one, Mira ain't it? Good with machines, decent fighter. They'll surely be out to grab the two of 'em. '' 3 paused yet again. '' Want them to join em. '

He raised an eyebrow again, flabbergasted before choking out another response.

'' How'd you know?? Have you been lurking? Spying?- ''

The yellow Inkling let their arms dangle, leaning on the wall. '' I have to get my information visually somehow, anyways. I'm gonna go spy on the girls. They're.. In Girl Power if ya gonna watch. '' 3 opened the door and stepped through it.

'' That doesn't!- '' He called out to the Inkling but they'd already walked away. Fuck sake.

What a weird Inkling.

His thumb twitched as he stuffed his left hand away. His free hand fiddling with the cq-80. 

Maybe he should go see em.

Chapter Text

'' I can't do it. I can't I can't- '' Ochona gripped onto the charger, her fingers tightening to where she could physically break it. Mira held onto her friends face and shook it.

'' We have to keep going till we do it- ''

'' They keep fucking taunting us! Like we're not good enough! '' Ochona threw the Charger down, it disappeared into Pixels in a matter of seconds. She walked over to the rails.

Mira dropped her Slosher down, it also choosing to vanish, '' We are good enough, just. They're obviously from the Army so they're alot- ''

'' What better?? Is that what you're gonna say? ''

Mira exhaled leaning onto the bar. '' Yeah. But also listen. ''

'' They're not inherently normal. So they obviously have an advantage, we're outnumbered physically, We just need tactics. ''

Her hand slid into Ochona's rubbing the now Picton blue fingertips of Ochona's. '' You take left, I take right? '' She looked up at Ochona. She loosely hung over the bar, it was like nothing was underneath them.

Mira wiped a tear off of Ochona's eye. Despite Ochona being a skilled fighter, she was prone to giving up quickly and getting frustrated when battling with opponents. She nudged the Pink Octolings shoulder.

'' Cmon Ochoo.. The faster we do this, the faster you can beat 'em to a pulp. Faster we get home. '' 

Ochona chuckled and squeezed Mira's hand, she loosely let go after a slight pain shot up her wrist. She'd been getting that more commonly so it wasn't much of a concern.

'' Faster we go home, yeah. Faster I get Ice cream cause I'm done with this shit. ''

Mira rolled her eyes but nodded. Walking back to the weapon selection. '' Maybe try a different weapon this time? Charger isn't really working.. ''

'' Alright Miss 'Weapon's Master.' Tell me what I should use!- ''

Ochona yelped and quickly held onto the heavy weapon Mira had seemingly chucked over with no ease. The Splatling, She'd hadn't seen a newer Splatling in ages, the old ones were usually easy to drag, and were typically blocky, the supports were now yellow, and the water jug is at a diagonal angle instead of being completely horizontal to not block the view! '' Alright, not bad.. ''

Mira walked over to the Blaster, grabbing the semi lightweight weapon in her grip. '' You get Ink armour, I'll get splashdown. I haven't used a blaster in ages. '' Mira fiddled around with the Blaster. The middle of the weapon exposes the internals of the weapon as if to make it easier for the user to tweak or change the parts inside. '' So you got that? ''

Ochona nodded with a slight smile. Mira walked to the launchpad, Ochona following behind her, she'd used rollers and other heavy weapons before, but this one was a slight ease off her shoulders, it beats a charger.

###

3 landed on top of the glass roof that separated the subway and the level. Their shoes slightly dragging and squeaking against the panels. There were weapons laid out for the participants to chose. They'd need to stay silent at all times. Not like they could hear them, but unnecessary distraction could end in a splat for both. But a curiosity laid in their mind, 3 picked up a charger and stood on the launch pad. 

If they could get in without notice, this level'd be a whole lot easier.

###

Miles stepped out the subway to the entrance. He couldn't pay to get in. The max limit was reached when he tried. 2/2. He'd just have to watch through the glass, problem is the fight was happening on a different platform, so he could see a few, just not a lot. He stood on his tip toes and put his face right up to the glass.

3 landed on the launch pad, they'd not noticed them yet, good. They had some sort of plan, both had specials ready and were guarding different sides. So it would be hard to go unnoticed. Ochona held the Splatling and glared around, eventually moving positions to the front. 3 saw their chance and slipped to the side with the charger. Effectively camping the next Sanitized. 

Ochona forgot she'd left the the left side free to attack. She saw the super jump marker landing and whirred up the Splatling. As soon as the Sanitized landed they immediately splatted due to a fast fire. A charger shot.

Maybe it was a bug. She wasn't complaining. 

30.

20.

10.

They're getting overwhelmed and the Orb is dying. Mira's struggling to keep up with the fast fired shootings of the Dualies, Blaster, Slosher. Ochona was slightly struggling with the speed of the Octobrush, Splatling, and Roller. 3 was hidden, Occupying the Shooter and Charger.

5.

The orb's going to die. Ochona switches from attacking and fires a load pummelling at the Orb, regenerating some health. There was a roller that snuck through in the last second.

4.

3.

2.

Bang.

1.

Level Complete.

Ochona gasped at the charger noise again as 3 ducked behind a wall. Shit. 3 quickly super jumped from the arena back to the Subway. Mira glared behind her at the noise whooshing. A yellow Object flying off. She stared bewildered. Ochona carried the weapon over and latched onto Mira in a tight hug. She was jumping, joyous, ecstatic, '' We did it! We got past them! ''

Mira patted the ecstatic Octoling's back and smiled, '' Yeah we.. we did! Now we can snag the last Thang. And go! ''

Miles couldn't see the fight so he stepped back on the subway which was waiting for the two girl's arrivals. Mira and Ochona squeezed against each over. 

'' Ocho- You crying? ''

Ochona rubbed her eyes dropping the gun, it fizzed into Pixels. '' N- No! I'm just happy that that's the last level- Uh.. I mean- ''

'' We did it, that's what ya mean. ''

She nodded vigorously, so hard that her head might've fell off. Mira laughed and dropped her weapon. Stepping on the launch pad she shot off to the Subway train and Ochona followed back. The Pink Octoling grabbed onto the Mem cake and hissed.

'' I never wanna do that floor ever again.. And i never wanna see a damn sanitized again- ''

'' Shh- They could hear you. '' Mira shushed her slightly, Sanitized were frightening so it was best to not get on their bad side. 

They stepped into the subway, the door closing behind her. It was quiet, eerily quiet. Barely anyone was on the train. Ochona smiled and waved her hand at Miles, he waved back.

'' Where's all the Sanitized? ''

'' Vanished, not so entirely sure.. they're not here though. ''

Mira and Ochona sat on the subway, that means they were free to talk and sleep without judgement, not like they weren't being judged silently before. Ochona flopped on the subway seat. '' I don't care what ya two do, I want a nap. '' Her hand laid on the cold metal bar using it as a support to rest on. Mira sat by Miles's side, her legs slightly draping over his.

'' Pft, Enjoy the nap! '' Her hands slightly hung around his waist. The subway sped up slowly.

'' So we get to leave, hopefully? ''

'' That's the deal with the phone. But I'm not.. sure. ''

Mira leaned her head on his shoulder. '' What do you mean 9? ''

He flushed at the nickname subtly.

'' I mean well.. What we're collecting is Blender parts so I have a feeling.. '' His gut churned slightly at the anticipation. Mira rubbed his thigh with her thumb. 

'' Y'know if anything happens. We're all leaving together, No one's gettin left behind 'kay? '' She looked up at him and blinked. '' I can't do much to ease the worries.. But it'll be good, I promise that, mkay? ''

He nodded, his heartbeat speeding up at her wrapped her arms around his shoulder. Plopping a light kiss with chuckle on his lips.

'' Yeah! Yeah I- I trust you- '' Her hand fiddled with the side part of his hair. 

'' Good! ''

Chapter Text

Ochona woke up suddenly, her eyes snapping open as she groggily rubbed her head. Her body seemed to move from the Metal bar onto the subway seat. Her eyes tried to take in every ray of light, despite there almost being none and without a doubt she'd known she'd slept too long. Her eyes try to adjust to the sudden void of the Metro. She stared at the two lamps next to her, Blue and White.

'' Okay so the power Is off, I'm not crazy- '' Mira giggled and in the dark she could be seen wiping something off something, it was too dark to make out what it was.

'' Yeah- Just 20 minutes ago the power shut off. It's frankly not been a concern but we're not moving.. ''

'' That- Is a concern! '' Ochona pulled her card out her pocket, trying to flick it on, no luck. Seemed holograms didn't work either.

'' What have you two been doing this time?- ''

Miles pulled up his jacket and wiped his face, he out of the two girls looked more like a flashlight with the glow emanating off of him, '' Nothin.. ''

'' Oh... makin out, got it. ''

'' Why do you always round it up to that?!- '' Mira snapped standing up.

'' You two, dark space, can't keep your hands off each over, I'm young, but I ain't stupid- '' Ochona stood up, shaking the tired ache off of her. Mira backed down when... that was the truth. Ochona continued to stretch as the other two stood up, Mira leaning on the bar slightly due to sitting down for way too long, her legs had slightly fallen asleep.

'' How about we figure out a way to get out of here? ''

'' Yeah that works! ''

The subway felt empty, extremely empty. As if they were the only people on. Really they were. Ochona held onto Miles.

'' And I say we use him as a flashlight since he shines the brightest. '' Miles responded with a weak thumbs up. '' Cmon Flashlight, walk! ''

And here comes the new nickname that he might never be able to live down.

The trio walked across the different cut sections of the subway, making sure to not trip or accidentally distract. Once they reached the end they turned around and repeated the same cycle, walking up and down. Up and down.. '' Ochona this isn't doing anything- ''

'' Shh. Look up. I was using vibrations. '' Mira and Miles looked up to a roof panel.

Huh.

Mira planted her hands onto her hips, '' Bullshit- '' Ochona smugly smirked, okay maybe she was just walking up and down looking at the advertisements on the semi top back and forth but she wasn't gonna admit that!

'' So how'd we get it open? ''

'' This, '' Ochona stood on the subway seat. Mira and Miles stepped backwards and Ochona swung her foot up to kick the panel, she missed and tumbled forward into the floor inducing a loud bang. Miles held his mouth over Miras, she'd physically start chuckling. Her chest quickly pacing up and down, her own hand planted on his to shut herself up. It was so quiet you'd hear a mouse probably walking around, depends if they still existed. Ochona chuckled and lifted herself off the floor. Pink Ink slightly leaking from her nose.

'' Hghk!- Hsghs- Ow Hah- '' Mira took a deep breath and pushed his hand away.

She picked Ochona up slightly dropping her on the subway seat. Ripping a part of a old piece of newspaper she quickly grabbed from the seat using it to stem the bleeding. '' You god damn- dummy- ''

Miles stared up at the panel, he was almost enough to reach it. His hand latched onto the metal bar and used it to gain some height. He shakily let one hand off the bar and slammed the ceiling panel making the two girls jump. He stared down quickly muttering an apology, he went back to trying to break it open.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, he thrusted his backhand up once again, and this time the ceiling panel popped open and shivered to the side with a scraping noise. '' Got an exit. Just need to get out now. Smallest first. ''

Mira glanced to Ochona and snickered.

'' Piss off. '' 

Miles grabbed Ochona under the arms, like you would if you were to pick up a child and held her up to the exit, just enough space to pull herself up. She rolled onto the roof of the subway. Her bright pink eyes glowing and blinking down at the two below. Ochona backed up when Mira used a seat to jump up into the hole they'd made. Ochona grabbing her hand and pulling her through.

Miles followed along, Mira grabbing onto his hand and pulling him through the unexpected hole in the subway. 

'' Look- We should just try walking in a random direction! '' Ochona smiled and pointed to the left, pointing towards the dark tunnel ahead. Mira and Miles jumped off the roof of the subway.

'' What if another subway comes along..? ''

Ochona rolled her eyes, '' Duh, there's no power on right now, pretty sure they run ON electricity. Let's go. '' Ochona's voice turned stern and a little firm as she walked along down a subway, the other two didn't want to separate so they walked after Ochona.

The trios colours reflected off the subway walls, all slightly mixing into a beautiful light orchid colour, (#D28FCF).

Ochona full on walked ahead, stepped over tracks, tripping slightly but she always caught herself. Mira stared at Ochona's legs. Not out of creepiness, but that aqua colour seemed to be crawling up her skin ever single time she looked away, a downy colour fading into her legs. Her fingertips which were barely visible had also taken note of the shift.

Ochona seemed eccentric. Jumpy, bouncing all over the place, while this wouldn't be unnatural for Ochona, it felt like too much.

Miles walked ahead steadily behind the two in front, he took notice of the seeming nonsense carved into the wall. The cracks in them, the floor. How it felt every time he dragged his foot across it, every single rock scraping under his metal sole.

This is going to be a while.

Chapter Text

'' I simply must wait for them, just give them a few more minutes, they- ''

Step forward to the promised land.

8 was beckoning with the phone, the thangs had been built and the entrance was open for 8 to step inside along with Craig, who'd been quiet for this entire time due to scepticism.

Step forward to the promised land.

'' Please- just. I'm not going without them.. ''

Step forward to the promised land..

A loud yelling voice came from one of the tunnels '' I SEE A LIGHT! '' Ochona ran out the tunnel as 8 snapped her head over,

'' Ochona! Where's your friends? '' She yelled out.

Ochona climbed up onto the base platform. Miles and Mira quickly hoisting up afterwards after some not so steady catching up. '' What's all this about?- '' Mira panted holding onto her chest.

'' I wanted you to come to the promised land with me! To Inkopolis, this is our device! '' 8 jogged over and held Ochona's hands with her own, her face infectiously beaming happiness, she genuinely believed this blender could help.

Mira quickly glanced at Miles who glanced back. Ochona walked up quickly with 8 holding her hands.

'' That's a blender!- Ochona don't go into it!''

'' It's- what? '' Ochona stood her ground looking the so called ''device'' up and down. It did resemble a blender, it had blades on both top and bottom. She yanked her hands off of 8. '' Why's it a blender??- ''

Do not question it, step forward to the promised land.

'' It's a fuckin trap! '' Miles yelled clenching his fists, he pointed at the blender taking a few steps forward.

Would I do such thing. I'm a guide, here to help you reach your goals. Step forward or force will be used.

'' ..force? '' Mira muttered, 8 was already stepping into the ''device.'' Ochona ran up behind her and tried to pull her out, the tide was quickly turned as she tripped inside due to the slight sudden drop on the edge. The door closed.

'' Shit. '' Ochona panted as she cut her hand on the blade below. She stood up and started kicking the inside glass.

The Deepsea Metro was illuminated in a torch red hue, like an alarm. It pulsed and flashed like a heartbeat would've, the blender roof started to slowly shrink down on the inhabitants. Ochona stood on the centre of the blade, using the heel of her foot to try kick the glass. Mira ran up and twisted her body to slam both her fists into the glass.

Once realising punching glass hurt she sharply inhaled pulling backwards, her fists clenched. Her eyes widened as the roof dropped closer and the blades started spinning slowly. Mira took her shoe off and held onto it, starting to slam into the glass with the Metal heel. Miles stepped backwards, the glass would break if they continued to attack it. He didn't want to get physically hurt.

There was a crash.

And a loud smash.

Chapter Text

'' Ochona?- OCHONA! WAKE UP. '' Mira kneeled on the glass. She didn't care if it dug into her skin. She was shaking the unconscious Octo that laid on the floor. Someone had sent off an SOS signal, or it was pure luck. But the Inkling, that they'd seen before, 3. Had jumped through the roof at the right time and attacked the top of the blender, tipping it and smashing the already damaged cup to the floor. 8 held onto her head on her knees. '' Wake up CODDAMIT. '' Mira's hands tightened around her unconscious friend's body, not wanting to let her go.

8 didn't mean to do this.

'' They're.. they're both out cold. Not- They're still breathing. '' Miles shuddered placing his hands on the chest of 3, then Ochona, checking for some sort of pulse, and breathing. Both were present and he removed his hands with a positive sigh.

'' I- I'm so sorry! I didn't- I didn't.. I wasn't thinking I- I wanted-'' 8 cried out to Mira and Miles, the glass digging into their skin. She picked out little shards. Her eyes a little red from rubbing a lot to stem the tears.

Mira's chest slowed down as she slowly calmed down. She glared at 8, Anger, irritation, fury, was in her gaze. But so was sorrow, understanding the situation. She wanted to be free. She knew what desperation did. Her gaze turned away. And then up at the hole in the ceiling. the one where 3 had crashed in from.

8 took notice and rubbed her eyes once again with her tear stained wrist. '' That's- That's gotta be a way out.. ''

'' We can't leave Ochona like this! I'm not going anywhere. '' Mira bawled as she continued to hold her friend. Miles crouched down next to Mira.

'' You won't be leaving them behind.. I'll stay with them, you two go on ahead. '' Mira clung onto Ochona tighter, her hand holding her best friends. Her fingertips were Aqua green. '' You and 8 can find a exit, we'll take longer but safer routes. And hopefully find a medical unit.. ''

Mira wasn't budging but her tense muscles softened as she slowly laid Ochona back onto the floor.

'' I am partially responsible.. 3 warned me... told me to keep you away from it. The farther you get from here, the better. We'll all find each over, mkay? '' He held onto Mira's hand quickly pulling her up to her feet. She sniffled rubbing her nose.

Mira choked out, '' What if- If- she doesn't make- ''

'' She will make it. I won't let that happen, trust me, I know you can do that. '' Miles brought his sleeve up to his wrist to wipe a few tears that'd started to bubble up again. '' Three and Ocho will both be fine... please, the longer we stay down here, the longer we have a risk of getting exposed.

Mira had to give up and swallow her pride. It was not a nice swallow. Like taking medication without water. It felt almost sickening to leave her best friend, her best friend she'd known since she was just a little Octo, unconscious on the floor, and just continue on without her. She laid her hand across her chest to ease the sick feeling boiling inside her, it didn't do a lot. She shakily took a few deep breaths.

8 brushed the glass of her knees and swallowed her pride too. She'd be forced to explain her actions, what she was thinking, all the consequences, that lead up to this, maybe it was a chance to apologise. Mira surprisingly hugged 8. It was the closest thing she had to a friend right now. The body weight making 8 plant her heel down to support her.

'' Cmon We'll uh- We'll be back... '' 8 hushed Mira before performing a super jump out the hole. Mira stumbled, brushing the glass off her knees, blue inky cuts scratching at her skin, she whipped her head around, one last gaze before super jumping. Leaving Miles with the unconscious bodies. 

Not long after they left the subway beeped, and beeped loudly, Miles quickly dragged the unconscious Inkling next to Ochona, so he didn't have to pace back and forth with helping. His heart flaring up at the sight and noise. He kneeled down onto the glass. His throat tightened up.

The noise.

The sights.

Everything was too much.

His breathing was shaky as he forced himself to stay upright, he was in a position, a position he had to fulfil, he had to help these two. 

There were footsteps, his head darting out to spy a group of the Sanitized Octolings, all equipped with weapons. One, presumably a leader due to the kelp on their glasses and darker coloured hair spoke. Harshly.

'' Pass 'em over, and no one gets hurt 9. ''

His back was turned to the group.

His words were shaky and mumbled. 

'' Over my dead body. ''

The elite spoke back, venom practically leaking from her tone.

'' Over ya dead body? We got somethin' much worse for ya. ''

Chapter Text

Mira and 8 walked in pure silence for about the 10 minutes of their journey. The only occasional noise despite the shoes thudding against the metal floor would be the slight creak of a platform, or the dripping of some liquid hitting the metal floor that was hopefully down below. Walking through the eerie platforms of the Deepsea metro, Mira and 8 kept a cautious distance between each over, like unease or some sort of trust wasn't there between the two. .

The dimly lit passageways echoed with the distant sound of water dripping, adding to their sense of unease. Mira glanced over at 8, noticing the slight tremble in her movements. Maybe the cold shoulder treatment was a little too much.

 "Hey, 8," Mira spoke up, trying to break the silence that hung heavy between them. "Do you think we're getting closer to finding a way out?"

 "I-I'm not sure, Mira. This place is so vast, it's hard to tell. Plus we've literally just started so I do not think we will be getting nearer anytime soon.."

 Mira nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. The Deepsea metro was a labyrinth of danger and deception, you'd never know what you were really going to get. The longer they walked, the longer the awkwardness grew between them, 8 muttered a sentence that Mira couldn't tell if it was meant to comfort 8 or her. 

'' I- I didn't mean for Ochona to... fall in and- ''

'' Just zip it. '' Mira responded harshly, '' Ochona cared about you enough to go after you, she tripped. You wanted an escape, It ain't matter. '' Mira shrugged her shoulders continuing to walk, each step like putting more force down into the floor.

'' R-right sorry. '' 8 muttered, fiddling with her own fingers as she continued to walk.

8 huffed out a little breath and stuffed her hands into her shorts. Mira crossed her hands over as they continued to walk. It seemed like walking was the only thing to do in the moment. Mira slightly stared at 8. Maybe she should try delve more into 8's past, see if she can help her remember.

Mira uttered, '' Hachi..? '' 8 didn't respond. '' Eight? '' Suddenly she found the Octoling's eyes on hers, so that would get her attention. hm. 8 tilted her head like waiting.

'' Do you remember anything before.. the Army? ''

8's hand leaned on the metal platform next to them. '' I remember very little, I had a few friends. I was vaguely known. I was...on the testing fields a lot I think. '' Mira nodded as she noticed her footsteps getting a tiny bit louder, and the mechanical whirring seeming to become louder too.

'' Testing fields... ah, so you were IN in the Army. I was still in the training schools. '' Mira subtly acknowledged before darting her head up, '' I man, I did some work in the Army.. ''

'' Explains why I barely recognize you, I wasn't in the training schools for particularly long. '' 8 acknowledged the fact that yes, they recognized each over, but not enough to have any history, the only times when the two crossed over was different schedules that just so happened to overlap.

Mira took a deep breath, and tried again, '' Do you think anyone remembers you? Or by that your name...? '' 

8 paused for a second, her voice seemed to go from soft to a little quieter, '' I probably would like to think they at least well remember me at least. My name though? Probably not, '' 8 rolled her shoulders, a faint click coming out, '' But I don't even remember myself that well, so yeah! '' She chuckled a smile at the end nonchalantly.

'' That's sorta sad. '' Mira whispered to herself, 8 squinted like she'd heard it but was just going to ignore it for now.

The walls to this area looked almost cubed, almost padded. Like noise wasn't meant or planned to be heard. A swelling feeling raised up in Mira's chest. Was she sweating or trying to believe she was sweating? It's like she knew so much more about this Octoling then she did herself, it felt creepy. But it was like she was her only answer.

'' What if... I knew your name? ''

'' Then...what if you do? '' 8 looked up at Mira, her big eyes staring her down, those big eyes could get any information she wanted, who wouldn't trust her? She was probably aware of this power, however getting stared down and staring at someone for too long made her uncomfortable.

'' Your name was Hachi. '' Mira bluntly responded, wiping her hands on her vinyl shorts. 8 stopped for a moment as Mira turned around to look at ''Hachi,''

8 put her hands in her pockets, '' It sounds.. familiar. Hachi wasn't my name but it could've been. ''

Mira let out a sigh, '' Could've sworn it was Hachi, I can still keep callin' ya 8 if you want. '' Mira stared out, it felt like it was getting darker. The void tipping and seeping into her skin.

'' Call me Hachi, I want to see if I can get adjusted to my... newer name, thank you.  Unless I decide to change it, Hachi fits. '' She nodded.

The two simultaneously stepped on a respawn pad on accident, a sharp sort of checkpoint noise echoing and fading as quick as it came. Mira's heart rose up once again, '' What.. was that. '' Her fists clenched as she was ready to jump out and start swinging.

It was oddly cold down here, Mira had lost the ability to feel faint heat or coldness, the injury she had effect part of her balance, not a lot, just running, and her heat tolerance. Hot stuff felt like a heatwave, coldness felt like being stuck in the snow. Despite feeling very little about the temperature Mira's skin prickled, shivering at the cold contact with the air. Mira could see a faint shiver from Hachi too as she tried to coax herself into thinking it was warm.

8's fists clenched slightly, mainly to ease her shaking arms and circulate body heat, '' I- I don't know uh- but look. Ink covered platforms and a wall.. It leads somewhere. '' Hachi shifted to swim form and dipped into one of the Ink platforms then onto the metal one, shifting back to her more humanoid form she looked at Mira, who was still...blue.

Mira felt the slightly judging eyes staring into her, '' Just give me a second, I haven't changed Ink in a while. '' Mira wasn't fond of shifting Ink colours, fact she found it quite tedious, Blue was her favourite colour. For an Octoling to change colours it has the be to either match a team for a turf war, or on command, it didn't take a while, Mira just didn't like changing.

The colour shifted from congress blue, to daisy bush, to seance and then red violet, and then finally the rose colour of 8. She jumped after Hachi, taking a leap off the the platform into the pinkish Ink. Landing on the platform next to the inked wall, Mira shifted swim form and climbed up the wall, and landing up top 8 just stood there.

'' Right what-'s '' Mira was hushed by 8 placing her hand over Mira's mouth, at first she was annoyed and quickly felt her anger rising, but she turned her head to what Hachi was staring at. Sanitized Octarians, not just the Octolings, the whole subspecies too,

Octotrooper's, 

Shielded Octotrooper.

Octodiver.

Shielded Twintacle Octotrooper.

Rocket Twintacle Octotrooper.

Just to name a few. You still had the little spinning flying bastards, Octobombers, Octosnipers and so on.

What's the difference? They wouldn't usually attack Octolings of their own kind, because most come from the same species, even if their origins and how they were created were a little... different.

But that's the thing, they wouldn't attack their own kind.

If they were normal.

They're all sanitized.

Hachi spoke softly and darted behind a metal wall; dragging Mira too, to not get the attention of the storming Octotrooper's, guarding and patrolling back and forward in their own sickly aqua Ink. '' We have to do this all without weapons. We need to be stealthy, Not making a single noise or letting 'em see us. Got it? ''

8 being dead serious and quite firm threw Mira off guard, supposedly everyone had a second attitude when it came to dangerous situations. And Hachi's was more commanding and stubborn, her adrenaline rush was some sort of protection and decision making between Life and death and such. Mira nodded and Hachi let go of her mouth. Waiting for the Octotrooper's she turned around and swam into the Ink. Mira took a deep breath and followed after her.

Chapter Text

Mira tumbled onto the respawn pad, her chest quickly rising up and down as her tumbling resulted to her laying on her back. 8 stood above, tilting her head like a curious cat. She extended her hand up to which Mira took it. Clenching onto it as 8 pulled her up. 

'' Cod sake I'm.. that was the most anxiety inducing level I've ever done, sanitized everywhere.. '' Mira brushed some of the sticky Ink off of her.

It clung to her skin like glue, it dropped off her finger, and she turned her back to 8, who seemed to be fiddling with something, Mira popped her finger in her mouth, the one with the sanitized Ink on it and gagged immediately after. The taste being so small yet so huge. It tasted like how'd you expect pure acid. Stinging and salty, it burnt her tongue slightly. Mira clenched onto her knees and gagged, spitting some rose ink up.

Hachi stared at Mira, perplexed why she was seemingly gagging, Mira gave a weak smile and a thumbs up as she tried to regain any sort of normality.

'' Got it. '' 8 muttered, tapping a button on her ear. Mira only just took notice of this as she stood crouching before getting back onto her legs.

'' Who ya talkin to?- '' 

Hachi quickly glanced at Mira, she took the earbud out her ear and held it in her grip, '' My... well they're helping me get through, sumthin princes.. hyperfish.. '' There's intelligible squabbling coming from the earpiece to which the young Octoling winced and put it back into her ear, hushing the other two.

Mira nodded, still confused but frankly, she didn't care or want to know who was talking. 8 looked up at the ceiling. '' Careful, there's an Octoseeker. ''

'' Let's get it to crash some crates. '' Mira grinned and basically walked out unarmed.

The Sanitized Octoseeker's light turned to red as it identified the foreign person, Mira ran over to some of the crates and the Octoseeker follow, finally in one swoop motion Mira rolled out the way and let the seeker slam onto the Crates and a large key semi glowed, almost like a hologram. 8 saw the chance to run out and slide to the key, she slid across the floor and rolled into a crevice to hide from the seeker. Mira ducked into the hole next to 8.

The Octoseeker looked around with its white light, eventually loosing sight of the two 'intruders and returning back to it's dormant position, patrolling and using its search light. 8 pointed to a locked cage of glass, also known as Vaults. She glared back at Mira and grabbed onto her hand and started running. She slid the key into the vault and it broke open attracting the attention of the Octoseeker.

The vault contained a hidden pressure switch and once 8 opened it it opened to an Ink rail. Mira's heart sank as she saw 8 about to step on it.

'' Wait!- I'm not ready for this!- '' Mira objected but got dragged onto the Ink rail. 8 slid on the pink flowing metal steady looking back at Mira who wasn't having such a good time. Her arms flailed for something to grab, she couldn't believe she was on something so thin and still living. Mira kept repeating the phrase Oh my cod as she silently panicked.

8 chuckled, this was all new for her after all, atleast 8 had time to adjust to Ink rails. Hachi looked up. To spy Sanitized Octomissles seemingly coming from nowhere. Twice as many. '' MOVE FROM RAIL TO RAIL, '' Hachi screamed out as she jumped to a different rail. Mira, who'd just got the hang of staying still on the rail screamed back.

'' HOW IN FUCK'S HELL DO I DO- AGH! '' One of the Octomissles hit her right in the head, knocking her off one of the rails, her fingers barely grasping onto the third one. Mira's fingers stretched as she yelled tossing her foot onto the rail, it seemed to stick like glue and stay in place, using whatever energy she had left she threw herself on the rails before being thrown onto a platform as she yelped. Rolling against the dirty floor.

8 jumped off the rail and walked along the floor before stopping to turn back and face Mira, she rolled her eyes as she walked back to her accomplice in crime and picked her up by the hand and then helping her stand, '' That is absolutely not how to ride an Inkrail. ''

'' Didn't fucking know that sherlock. '' Mira winced at her back being patted.

'' Lighten up! And stay here too, '' 8 patted Mira's shoulders despite 8 being slightly shorter then her and crouched around a corner. She seemed to be eyeing something and then she crouched towards it.

Mira crossed her arms and slumped against the wall.

Her chest ached, she hadn't been away for very long she'd thought. Probably maybe an hour... an hour felt too long. Mira shook her arms uncomfortably, her wrists an ache from clinging onto the rail and tumbling. Yes, she missed her friend, yes she missed her partner. There was a longing for some sort of normality in her life. She was never gonna get it was she?

8 tapped onto the daydreaming Mira's shoulder quickly alerting her back to her senses, 8 dropped a splat bomb on her, while Mira internally panicked it didn't go off, so she'd guessed 8 had probably found it. '' Sweet, a new toy. ''

---------------------------------------------------------

'' Alright, should be easy enough! '' Mira hur;ed the splat bomb up to the pressure switch. Once activated it opened a room to Sanitized Octohurlers and a lot of propeller platforms.

The two stood to the entrance of the room, Mira spoke quietly but stern. '' Can you... close this door. I don't feel like going through... that. '' Mira pointed to the room ahead and Hachi huffed, she didn't feel like going through the enemies either but they both had to.

'' Get it over and done with. '' 8 picked up the the splat bomb, threw it to Mira who proceeded to use it as a volleyball, and whack it, sending it close enough to a Sanitized Octohurler. The realisation set in that hitting metal hurt. It stung

Mira rubbed her arms and harshly whispered some curses to herself as 8 couldn't help but snicker, she covered her mouth. The loud voice that was presumably pearl was cackling in her ear, with a annoyed Marina who was just getting through the day with a energy drink.

'' You... you good?- ''

Mira stared at Hachi with a deadpan expression, she rubbed her arm, there wasn't going to be a bruise quickly but there would absolutely be one presumably a lot later. Her expression the only words Hachi needed.

Hachi grabbed 3's wrist and threw a splat bomb onto one of the propeller platforms moving it out the way and revealing a launchpad. '' I feel there is a weapon nearby.. '' 8 whispered to herself, 

'' Weapon? '' That grabbed Mira's interest. Finally some good weaponry that doesn't guarantee an immediate death!

'' Yes, a gun maybe. Come on, no spinning the pole! ''

'' Spinning- what?- '' Mira hadn't had enough time to reciprocate what 8 meant, maybe it was like 'No dilly-dallying.' in some sort of sense. 8 dragged her to the launchpad and crouched into it sending her off into the air along with Mira.

---------------------------------------------------------

8 and Mira were given Octo shots, Mira squeezed onto the weapon and squealed. '' Finally! It's been forever since I've seen this baby! ''

Hachi rolled her eyes, obviously joyful for her friend she leaned slightly forward to look at the nozzle of her gun. '' You really love the Octo Shot? ''

'' I own my own version of it, and a Undercover brella, they're my main! ''

'' Why an Undercover Brella...? '' Hachi was no judgemental person, but even they had limits, she didn't care what weapon people used, but when trying the Undercover Brella, it just broke repeatedly for her.

Mira spun the Octo shot in her fingers, '' It's a good weapon for me. '' Agree to disagree!

The duo found themselves back at the beginning of the level, the launchpad had taken them back to it oddly enough, but this time they had weapons so they weren't both utterly defenceless! Hachi spoke to Mira about the Inkable wall, and how they should try get up, so they did!

Both proceeded to shoot at the wall and quickly swim up it to get out the Octosweeper's gaze. They quickly jumped to the top and Hachi shot a blotch of Pink Ink to a pressure point opening the walls to another... Ink rail. 8 stared at Mira with that smug shit-eating grin.

'' Try to ride it this time! ''

'' I hope you fall off the Inkrail onto a concrete platform- '' Mira bitterly responded, reciprocating a small hmph from Agent 8, the younger Octoling jumped on the Inkrail and Mira joined after. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, a charger whirring noise could be heard starting up.

8 looked up to above her, a Sanitized Octosniper stood tall and above. And it was attempting to shoot... both? It couldn't focus on both of them. '' If it tries to shoot you, jump! ''

'' Like that worked so well last time! '' Mira snarkly replied eyeing down the Octosniper.

It was aiming for her. 

And with a leap of faith the Octosniper shot, and Mira jumped over it, landing back on the Inkrail properly this time, no injuries happening! Mira threw her hands up whooping, '' I did it Hachi! I did it! ''

The rose Octoling smiled and did a short little clap, being thrown off balance slightly by a sniper shot. 8 felt a gush of air swoop over her and she ducked thinking it was a Octosniper, It was not. It was Mira jumping over her, 8 held onto her chest, '' What are you doing?! ''

'' Killing it! '' Mira responded cockily. Perhaps being gifted a weapon after forever made her a bit too determined, giving her power and making her feel invincible. She jumped mid air and fired a few shots to the Octosniper quickly splatting it, however she landed on the cold concrete that was the sniper's platform below, eliciting a small yelp and grunt of pain as she landed face first, add that to the brain injuries. 

8 spun off the Ink rail making sure to not stand on Mira. Her tentacles uncurled as she just sorta laid on the floor, 8 nudged her with the front of her shoe muttering, '' You wanna get up..? ''

Her response was a small muffled unreciprocated huff from Mira. Her face hurt, her arms and her fingers throbbed. She had been so overexcited with jumping and getting a weapon, she'd forgotten all the actual Injury she'd been forcefully given. 8 helped Mira back on her feet, even letting her use her shoulder as a rest for a few minutes.

'' Look, Launchpad, it's gotta go further. ''

'' We gotta go further. To...cod knows where. ''

Chapter Text

Mira tumbled onto the respawn pad, her chest quickly rising up and down as her tumbling resulted to her laying on her back. 8 stood above, tilting her head like a curious cat. She extended her hand up to which Mira took it. Clenching onto it as 8 pulled her up. 

'' Cod sake I'm.. that was the most anxiety inducing level I've ever done, sanitized everywhere.. '' Mira brushed some of the sticky Ink off of her.

It clung to her skin like glue, it dropped off her finger, and she turned her back to 8, who seemed to be fiddling with something, Mira popped her finger in her mouth, the one with the sanitized Ink on it and gagged immediately after. The taste being so small yet so huge. It tasted like how'd you expect pure acid. Stinging and salty, it burnt her tongue slightly. Mira clenched onto her knees and gagged, spitting some rose ink up.

Hachi stared at Mira, perplexed why she was seemingly gagging, Mira gave a weak smile and a thumbs up as she tried to regain any sort of normality.

'' Got it. '' 8 muttered, tapping a button on her ear. Mira only just took notice of this as she stood crouching before getting back onto her legs.

'' Who ya talkin to?- '' 

Hachi quickly glanced at Mira, she took the earbud out her ear and held it in her grip, '' My... well they're helping me get through, sumthin princes.. hyperfish.. '' There's intelligible squabbling coming from the earpiece to which the young Octoling winced and put it back into her ear, hushing the other two.

Mira nodded, still confused but frankly, she didn't care or want to know who was talking. 8 looked up at the ceiling. '' Careful, there's an Octoseeker. ''

'' Let's get it to crash some crates. '' Mira grinned and basically walked out unarmed.

The Sanitized Octoseeker's light turned to red as it identified the foreign person, Mira ran over to some of the crates and the Octoseeker follow, finally in one swoop motion Mira rolled out the way and let the seeker slam onto the Crates and a large key semi glowed, almost like a hologram. 8 saw the chance to run out and slide to the key, she slid across the floor and rolled into a crevice to hide from the seeker. Mira ducked into the hole next to 8.

The Octoseeker looked around with its white light, eventually loosing sight of the two 'intruders and returning back to it's dormant position, patrolling and using its search light. 8 pointed to a locked cage of glass, also known as Vaults. She glared back at Mira and grabbed onto her hand and started running. She slid the key into the vault and it broke open attracting the attention of the Octoseeker.

The vault contained a hidden pressure switch and once 8 opened it it opened to an Ink rail. Mira's heart sank as she saw 8 about to step on it.

'' Wait!- I'm not ready for this!- '' Mira objected but got dragged onto the Ink rail. 8 slid on the pink flowing metal steady looking back at Mira who wasn't having such a good time. Her arms flailed for something to grab, she couldn't believe she was on something so thin and still living. Mira kept repeating the phrase Oh my cod as she silently panicked.

8 chuckled, this was all new for her after all, atleast 8 had time to adjust to Ink rails. Hachi looked up. To spy Sanitized Octomissles seemingly coming from nowhere. Twice as many. '' MOVE FROM RAIL TO RAIL, '' Hachi screamed out as she jumped to a different rail. Mira, who'd just got the hang of staying still on the rail screamed back.

'' HOW IN FUCK'S HELL DO I DO- AGH! '' One of the Octomissles hit her right in the head, knocking her off one of the rails, her fingers barely grasping onto the third one. Mira's fingers stretched as she yelled tossing her foot onto the rail, it seemed to stick like glue and stay in place, using whatever energy she had left she threw herself on the rails before being thrown onto a platform as she yelped. Rolling against the dirty floor.

8 jumped off the rail and walked along the floor before stopping to turn back and face Mira, she rolled her eyes as she walked back to her accomplice in crime and picked her up by the hand and then helping her stand, '' That is absolutely not how to ride an Inkrail. ''

'' Didn't fucking know that sherlock. '' Mira winced at her back being patted.

'' Lighten up! And stay here too, '' 8 patted Mira's shoulders despite 8 being slightly shorter then her and crouched around a corner. She seemed to be eyeing something and then she crouched towards it.

Mira crossed her arms and slumped against the wall.

Her chest ached, she hadn't been away for very long she'd thought. Probably maybe an hour... an hour felt too long. Mira shook her arms uncomfortably, her wrists an ache from clinging onto the rail and tumbling. Yes, she missed her friend, yes she missed her partner. There was a longing for some sort of normality in her life. She was never gonna get it was she?

8 tapped onto the daydreaming Mira's shoulder quickly alerting her back to her senses, 8 dropped a splat bomb on her, while Mira internally panicked it didn't go off, so she'd guessed 8 had probably found it. '' Sweet, a new toy. ''

---------------------------------------------------------

'' Alright, should be easy enough! '' Mira hur;ed the splat bomb up to the pressure switch. Once activated it opened a room to Sanitized Octohurlers and a lot of propeller platforms.

The two stood to the entrance of the room, Mira spoke quietly but stern. '' Can you... close this door. I don't feel like going through... that. '' Mira pointed to the room ahead and Hachi huffed, she didn't feel like going through the enemies either but they both had to.

'' Get it over and done with. '' 8 picked up the the splat bomb, threw it to Mira who proceeded to use it as a volleyball, and whack it, sending it close enough to a Sanitized Octohurler. The realisation set in that hitting metal hurt. It stung

Mira rubbed her arms and harshly whispered some curses to herself as 8 couldn't help but snicker, she covered her mouth. The loud voice that was presumably pearl was cackling in her ear, with a annoyed Marina who was just getting through the day with a energy drink.

'' You... you good?- ''

Mira stared at Hachi with a deadpan expression, she rubbed her arm, there wasn't going to be a bruise quickly but there would absolutely be one presumably a lot later. Her expression the only words Hachi needed.

Hachi grabbed Mira’s wrist and threw a splat bomb onto one of the propeller platforms moving it out the way and revealing a launchpad. '' I feel there is a weapon nearby.. '' 8 whispered to herself, 

'' Weapon? '' That grabbed Mira's interest. Finally some good weaponry that doesn't guarantee an immediate death!

'' Yes, a gun maybe. Come on, no spinning the pole! ''

'' Spinning- what?- '' Mira hadn't had enough time to reciprocate what 8 meant, maybe it was like 'No dilly-dallying.' in some sort of sense. 8 dragged her to the launchpad and crouched into it sending her off into the air along with Mira.

---------------------------------------------------------

8 and Mira were given Octo shots, Mira squeezed onto the weapon and squealed. '' Finally! It's been forever since I've seen this baby! ''

Hachi rolled her eyes, obviously joyful for her friend she leaned slightly forward to look at the nozzle of her gun. '' You really love the Octo Shot? ''

'' I own my own version of it, and a Undercover brella, they're my main! ''

'' Why an Undercover Brella...? '' Hachi was no judgemental person, but even they had limits, she didn't care what weapon people used, but when trying the Undercover Brella, it just broke repeatedly for her.

Mira spun the Octo shot in her fingers, '' It's a good weapon for me. '' Agree to disagree!

The duo found themselves back at the beginning of the level, the launchpad had taken them back to it oddly enough, but this time they had weapons so they weren't both utterly defenceless! Hachi spoke to Mira about the Inkable wall, and how they should try get up, so they did!

Both proceeded to shoot at the wall and quickly swim up it to get out the Octosweeper's gaze. They quickly jumped to the top and Hachi shot a blotch of Pink Ink to a pressure point opening the walls to another... Ink rail. 8 stared at Mira with that smug shit-eating grin.

'' Try to ride it this time! ''

'' I hope you fall off the Inkrail onto a concrete platform- '' Mira bitterly responded, reciprocating a small hmph from Agent 8, the younger Octoling jumped on the Inkrail and Mira joined after. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, a charger whirring noise could be heard starting up.

8 looked up to above her, a Sanitized Octosniper stood tall and above. And it was attempting to shoot... both? It couldn't focus on both of them. '' If it tries to shoot you, jump! ''

'' Like that worked so well last time! '' Mira snarkly replied eyeing down the Octosniper.

It was aiming for her. 

And with a leap of faith the Octosniper shot, and Mira jumped over it, landing back on the Inkrail properly this time, no injuries happening! Mira threw her hands up whooping, '' I did it Hachi! I did it! ''

The rose Octoling smiled and did a short little clap, being thrown off balance slightly by a sniper shot. 8 felt a gush of air swoop over her and she ducked thinking it was a Octosniper, It was not. It was Mira jumping over her, 8 held onto her chest, '' What are you doing?! ''

'' Killing it! '' Mira responded cockily. Perhaps being gifted a weapon after forever made her a bit too determined, giving her power and making her feel invincible. She jumped mid air and fired a few shots to the Octosniper quickly splatting it, however she landed on the cold concrete that was the sniper's platform below, eliciting a small yelp and grunt of pain as she landed face first, add that to the brain injuries. 

8 spun off the Ink rail making sure to not stand on Mira. Her tentacles uncurled as she just sorta laid on the floor, 8 nudged her with the front of her shoe muttering, '' You wanna get up..? ''

Her response was a small muffled unreciprocated huff from Mira. Her face hurt, her arms and her fingers throbbed. She had been so overexcited with jumping and getting a weapon, she'd forgotten all the actual Injury she'd been forcefully given. 8 helped Mira back on her feet, even letting her use her shoulder as a rest for a few minutes.

'' Look, Launchpad, it's gotta go further. ''

'' We gotta go further. To...cod knows where. ''

Chapter Text

The white Octoling hissed sharply being thrown against the wall, the rope tightly wrapped around his torso, his arms tucked in to his side as he knelt. Ochona was strapped down into the chair, fighting weakly against the sanitized above her.

“ L- LET HER GO!- “ He blurted out, not actually realising or meaning to say anything. The Sanitized turn led around and grabbed him by the side swept tentacle.

” Good soldiers are seen, not heard. “

The Sanitized seemed to stare at him, but the glasses hid most of their face so their tone was unidentifiable. Malice? Anger? Dismissive at most. 

It released its grip on him and glared under a table. The Sanatizer placed its hands on its face in a annoyed motion, muttering some curses in Octarian. Not before trying to secure Ochona to the chair again.

It realised they were getting nowhere as the Sanitized gave up momentarily. They let go of her, halfway tied to the chair, leg and arm walking off quickly, seemingly forgetting something.

Tears quickly streamed down Ochona's face, her fingertips digging into the rope, the rope chafed against her skin as she looked around for any weapons. She was doing anything but staying down.

'' Look Look breathe, Ochona- Breathe- '' Miles  choked out as his back wriggled against the wall, trying or attempt to stand up. She wasn't breathing or even thinking rationally.

His efforts were cut short with a stab in the chest being kicked down onto his sides, the ropes burning deeper into his arms. His vision was semi cut so he couldn't really look that far up.

Noises of struggling, grunting and yelling echoed as Ochona attempted to fight back. The thudding and physical violence only got louder. Punches were thrown, and the floor below was splattered with pink Ink, just a little blotch. Splatters of Ink.

She was coughing up some of the Ink. A pinkish and Aquaish hue.

“ You won’t need a lot to be changed. ”

The sanitized shoved Ochona into the chair, before the girl could react the sanitized pushed their knee on Ochona's stomach. Quickly flicking the arm strap on hers to keep her down.

“ GET THE FUCK OFF ME YOU CRAZY BI- MMHP- “ Ochona screamed out before there was the sound of Velcro being opened. And she suddenly faded out.

“ You’ll make do. “

His stomach churned and his eyes widened. The noises. His chest tightened and before he even realised it, the floor underneath him was pooled in a small puddle of his tears.

The one thing he was meant to do. 

It hurt too much to watch.

It didn't even physically hurt.

To watch and be able to do mostly nothing about it, it's an out of body experience. The hands go numb and the chest feels empty, he can only close his eyes and look at the fight happening before him. It felt like an actual murder scene.

But it wasn’t like a murder scene in a movie. It’d strapped some sort of cover to Ochona’s face so where she couldn’t scream. 

Having the ability to speak being taken away from you forcefully makes you feel so helpless. Miles struggled to sit up, forcefully bending his back in a way that it would hurt to even be in.

'' L- Let her g- go... go.. please.. '' His eyes swelled up with tears as he choked out a response. The sanitized turned over and grabbed him by one of the rope lines pulling him up straight.

The syringe propped against his neck, the Sanitized gave no response except dropping him, he thudded against the floor with a grunt, and it resumed it's motions on Ochona, her legs jittered and twitch. That Aquaish colour fading deeper.

It went quiet.

Too quiet.

His blood froze as he closed his eyes, the straps to the chair were unbuckled. You could hear them.

He could feel every single emotion going on at once. His body did not react in such a good way. Twitching and randomly moving in the slightest of touch. His arms burned as he was grabbed and he was thrown into the chair, not like he would need the straps with the tight rope.

His eyes darted to try see Ochona, his eyes immediately covered by a dead grip on his face. His skin tickled and itched, pricks going up his back as he was forcefully blindfolded.

But this wasn’t just one person anymore.

It was two, Two hands, just one syringe. The hands felt dead but they felt so alive at the same time due to the grip strength on his face. Tightened. 

It felt so cold and far. 

He could probably see his own body at this point. 

His fingers went numb. 

I’m sorry.

Chapter Text

8 panted before standing in the corridor, crouching, her hands clenched onto her knee's as she was taking some desperate breaths, she grumbled having to wring out some of the brightly colour Ink out her shirt, she scowled at Mira who seemed to be barely standing and drenched in the ink crouching on the floor. ‘’ Maybe don’t fall in the huge hole of ink . There’s a tip. “
 
‘’ I didn’t fall, I tripped over a metal bar. ‘’ Mira frowned back wringing the excess liquid off her jacket as well. Okay maybe she technically 'tripped' over a small bit of loose metal that still count as falling over! She still remembers the freezing cold of the ink pool.
 
8 rolled her eyes to Mira’s excuses and looked at the array of lasers in front of them. It looked fairly simple . ‘’ No use dwelling, this looks easy so let’s do it! ‘’ 8's attitude shaped immensely quick, it shouldn't be too hard to doge unmoving small lasers!

The first few lasers were easy, swim under it, jump over one or two, skim the laser and almost risk being caught and exposed, fun stuff! Mira slowed down realising she still was dirty with the aqua ink, so she shot a puddle of Ink to rinse the aqua stains off. And then followed quickly behind Hachi , shifting in and out of swim form to jump in and around lasers . They successfully jumped over quite a few when Mira went to jump again, 8 pulled on the collar of her shirt.  
 
‘’ Ack!- What’s that for?! ‘’ Mira demanded and then 8 raised an eyebrow unamused, pointing at the laser, it was moving. Moving slowly up and down but still moving, if Mira had jumped, she would've gone right into the laser.
 
Mira noticed this and pulled Hachi’s hand off the back of her shirt. ‘’ Right.. uh sorry- sorry my bad… ‘’ Mira muttered feeling a little guilt pang up in her chest.  
 
They continued to time jumps, going under and over. The lasers moving from slow, to semi slow, to a medium pace, and then to a pace which would require precision and maybe a little cheating to get through, like swimming under in ink! Mira and Hachi high fived before stopping dead in their tracks.

 A whole row blocking the hallway. Only a small gap at the top laid open. Mira huffed crossing her arms, ‘’ well great... how do we get through that... ‘’ Mira’s eyes widened as she looked at the seemingly impossible path. Trying to conjure up a plan.

8 felt a lightbulb ping in her head, she carefully inked the wall and over, just enough to swim up and then jump out the other side unscathed.  
 
‘’ Ohh.. I didn’t know the walls were Inkable ! ‘’ Mira gasped at the feat.
 
‘’ Yes, but probably a good idea to keep it away from the lasers! ‘’ 8 smiled and Mira reciprocated it with her own grin. The two swam up and jumped to avoid the lasers.  
 
There were close cases where Mira or 8 nearly touched the red beaming lasers, Mira put her hand near one of them and then immediately pulled it back, it felt scorching hot. They reached the end of the hallway and it was a dead end, Mira cocked her gun and fire ink splotches to swim up to.  

They jumped up onto the ledge. 

A puzzle.

Seems like they’d be here for.. a while.

Chapter Text

‘’ I’ve never seen an Octoling so bad at doing puzzles. ‘’ 8 stared at Mira frustrated while Mira stared back annoyed. 
 
‘’ I’ve never seen someone so bad at telling the difference between glass and air. ‘’ Mira rolled her eyes and hooked the Octo shot on her waist. She sighed and stared at 8. 
 
Her hands rested on her hips just above her belt, ‘’ Look, Hachi we just… are both getting stressed sorry, you probably want to get to the surface quick, I may be dragging. ‘’ Mira confessed before pausing her breath, ‘’ I wanna know if my friends are okay… ‘’ she murmured the last part. 
 
8 rest her hands on Mira’s back leaning ever slightly, ‘’ Sorry, yeah… I’m just nervous. I feel like we’re being watched and plus… ‘’ 8 paused and swallowed her pride. ‘’ I get very easily irritated yes it’s not a good trait. I don’t mean anything personal by it… ‘’ 
 
‘’ I know ya don’t we just… we’re on the same side ‘kay? ‘’ Mira huffed patting 8 on the back as they entered the next section. 
 
Mira almost dropped to the floor as 8 stood perfectly fine. A Inkjet had been randomly spawned or placed onto Mira’s back causing the surprised yelp. 8 turned around out of surprise to the noise. Her heartbeat slowing down once she noticed it was just Mira struggling to hold an Inkjet, the rose Octoling chuckled before helping her adjust it. 
 
‘’ Jeez… I can lift rollers but not an Inkjet?- ‘’ 
 
‘’ To be fair it was just spontaneously placed on your back.. ‘’ 8 snickered. 
 
Mira rolled her shoulders back before yelling again as she was in an instant thrusted into the air by the Inkjet, 8 held hers steady while Mira’s rocked back and forth. 
 
‘’ Oh cod, ‘’ 8 muttered before calling out to her, ‘’ Look this’ll sound stupid but just relax, it’s infinite for this section! ‘’ 
 
Mira uttered a shaky breath and then just, let go of her body. Like loosely letting your arm hang off the side of the sofa, it did relieve some anxiety in her once her Inkjet started flying straight. 
 
‘’ We… hold up. ‘’ 8 squinted fiddling with an object in her ear again, ‘’ No not kill enemies… ‘’ 
 
Mira raised an eyebrow, she had found time and time again while with 8 she was talking to voices in her ear, granted they’re her friends but she couldn’t help but have a pang of curiosity spring in her mind on who these friends were. Intruding wasn’t her business though. 
 
‘’ Oh! ‘’ 8 hollered, seemingly finally clicking the pieces all together in her head, ‘’ we need to find the 8 Data posts around this tower! And then get to the energy core in the centre! ‘’ 
 
‘’ Sounds simple enough, ‘’ Mira responded but smiled, ‘’ Splitting up should be easier right? ‘’ 
 
‘’ Yeah! Just don’t fall into the death pit below or we’re both going down. ‘’ Hachi joked before doing a short energy burst landing onto a far platform. 
 
‘’ Wait! How’d you do that? ‘’ Mira called out to Hachi, she whipped her head around like a cat.  
 
‘’ Press the silver button next to the canister! ‘’ 8 responded before hopping off to another platform. Mira pressed the button and did a little hop with the Inkjet but it had a cool down, lovely.  
 
Mira was still slightly shaky with the Inkjet, she’d never used one before not even in the army. It was a sleek pink machine to match the colour of their ink, with a silver back and antenna. Black secure straps at the front and a black seat to let the legs dangle, and a long rod at the front attatched to a nozzle at the end and another ink tank, there was a trigger down under it too to supposedly fire a burst of ink.  
 
Mira pressed the trigger and bounced back slightly firing the explosive burst of ink, it fell down into the void. Her eyes widened astonished, she took note of the seemingly never ending pink Ink shooting out the back to keep the person up. 
 
Mira was snapped back to her senses once she noticed changes already happening to the tower signalling 8 had already got to work, opening it and clearing out hordes of enemy’s on guard. 8 fired a Ink shot at the second lock once putting the enemies out their misery and flew away from it. 
 
8 seemingly did not climb up the grates and instead went to a different part, Mira took the grate and wall climbing path. She shot messy ink splotches and swam up them finding herself surrounded by enemies.  
 
Fire. 
 
Shoot. 
 
Victory. 
 
All clear! She fired a shot at a switch, it opened a door revealing a checkpoint 
 

Before them lay four switches now since the others were opened, each one a test of their skill and teamwork. With precision and determination, they tackled each obstacle, moving seamlessly through the tower, their movements synchronized as if they were part of one mind.  

8 stood at the top waiting for it to circle enough so she could shoot it. Mira landed down on a yellow grate, the ink shooting from the inkjet completely didn’t matter, huh. So they could stand on grates. Noted.  
 
The tower moved again and 8 took the chance, firing a explosive shot to disengage it, get to the switch. Completed. 
 
Mira fired an accommodating blast to the downward podium. Having to do a mid-air jump boost to properly hit it. Mira opened the switch, completed. 

Hachi passed Mira, they both seemed to be going towards the same podium, 8 landed on a flat surface and called out to Mira, ‘’ I’ve got this one, just stay here! ‘’ 
 
Great, less work for her then, plus 8 knows what she’s doing, probably. So Mira landed to where 8 had said for her to do.  
 
8 jump boosted off the platform, and landed on top of the podium sticking out, 8 had to time this exactly, to fire a blast and land on the platform below. She closed her eyes and just did it. Firing a ink bullet to disengage it she jumped off the podium, while making her way to the platform she turned mid-air firing a hot ball of Ink to hit the switch. Complete. She semi crashed on the platform below. 
 
Mira stood on the platform and cheered out for her, 8 could probably hear it, just not extremely well. 8 hopped on a Ink rail to meet back up with Mira. 
 
The agent landed on the platform next to Mira. ‘’ Alright 10, we gotta get into that pod. Checkpoint’s on it. Switch off the far side, you got that? ‘’ 8 was slightly panting, her heart thumping from adrenaline. 
 
‘’ Yea!- Wait 10? ‘’ 
 
8’s eyes widened from the shock, ‘’ Oh apologies wrong name!- Sorry.. you’re still agent 10 though so.. It’s easier, you know what I mean? ‘’  
 
Mira shrugged her shoulder, frankly she didn’t care enough to point it out, plus it made her feel a little cool. 
 
Mira climbed up the tower using her excellent parkour skills; falling twice. She finally reached the pod up above. She clung to the metal wall on her side and jolted her foot off the metal shooting the switch on the side, shakily recreating 8’s feat and landing on the platform below. 
 
The pod opened with a click and Mira jumped onto a Ink rail. Deciding to take a risk her heart accelerated, she used the Inkrail as a platform to launch off of. Her finger slipped on the button as she was pushed up. The Void laid beneath her. Mira kept frantically pressing the silver bomb for a speed boost. 
 
With a final thrust of her hand it slammed down onto the metal pod. Hachi was awe-struck, speechless, the list goes on. But she was also anxious to if Mira could pull herself up. But this wasn;t for her to interject. Part of her wanted to but part of her wanted Mira to feel proud for making it. 
 
Mira threw herself up, with a last burst of energy she pulled her knee onto the platform and kicked on top it to throw the rest of her body up. 8 took an immediate sigh of relief and shared it with Mira who was doing the same. She shot at the lock disengaging it. 
 
The final two made themselves clear and they were at the top of the tower. Mira flew over to 8, the rose Ocotling immedietly punched her through the strap. 
 
‘’ Ow!- ‘’ 
 
‘’ Don’t do that again! You had me absolutely terrified! ‘’ 8 exclaimed before huffing. 
 
Mira nodded with a smug shit eating grin unable to rub her arm, that’s gonna be a small bruise. ‘’ It looked cool- ‘’ 
 
‘’ Regardless I don’t want to watch you fall in the void, and be unable to do anything about… look. Last two are at the top we got this. ‘’ 8 continued to chatter and pointed up at the top, guarded by two Sanitized Octosnipers seemingly with a already charged shot ready to fire. 
 
‘’ We go up. And counter them both. ‘’  
 
‘’ Got it. ‘’ Mira started Inking one side of the wall, 8 inking the other side, the two simultaneously swam up it, the Octosnipers guarded the seventh lock they needed.  
 
Mira took a breath. 8 took a breath. 
 
They mirrored each over’s actions and jumped up shooting the Octosnipers on time, who seemed to both fire bullets. It grazed the Octoling’s skin burning up. Mira landed on the platform clutching her shoulder.  
 
‘’ Shit- Where’d it hit you..? ‘’ 
 
‘’ Didn’t hit me, I jumped. ‘’ 
 
‘’ I forgot about that. ‘’ Mira eyed up her injury wincing at the injury, it was a harsh shot but she’d have to live through it till they were back on the floor. 8 fired the shot to disengage the lock and the floor closed in on itself dropping the agents too. 
 
They landed in a room with the final lock. Only problem is It’s surrounded by enemies. Mira slightly gasped at the abundance of them, 8 had no hesitation and started shooting, Octosnipers, Octocommanders, the lot of them all huddled together to create a torrent of ink to fire at the agents. 
 
Mira and 8 worked together in unison, firing coherent bullets to hit multiple enemies all at once. It drained the Ink tank, Mira fell hitting the floor scurrying to sink into the pink Ink. The Octosniper charged up and went to fire it’s shot. 
 
8 charged up and fired the same time as the Octosniper, the shots colliding mid-air and almost bouncing off each over splattering the pink and aqua ink on their respective sides. The Octosniper stared perplexed while 8 fired out the final shot to put it at peace. 
 
Mira’s heart blasted up as she noticed what 8 did. Yelling out a thanks. With one final blast, the lock disengaged, and the platform beneath them started to shake as it brought the two agents to a jumppad, their Inkjets finally turning off.  

Mira laughed with relief and triumph, 8 was laughing more to the fact her chest was repeatedly banging against her chest and she needed something to take her mind off of it. Mira latched onto Hachi in a semi decent hug. It is quite odd to hug in a inkjet.  

They were so different but similar, one of their similarities was their hearts pounding with adrenaline and pride. Mira tugged her hand to stand on the super jump. 
 
‘’ Slow down for a second, I need a minute… ‘’ 8 sighed finally pulling her arms through the straps dropping the Inkjet, it combusted into pixels. Mira mimicked her actions. 8 sat down to catch her breathing as Mira kneeled next to her. 
 
‘’ We can take longer…what’s got you up? ‘’ 
 
‘’ Nothing! ‘’ 8 exclaimed before holding onto her chest, ‘’ we are close to the exit, I feel it. But that anxiety feels closer… ‘’ 
 
Oh yeah, 8 was having paranoiac feelings to someone following the two the entire time. Mira shimmied to the front of them and took 8’s hands rubbing them slowly with her thumbs. 
 
‘’ Hey... hey relax, that isn’t the easiest thing to do right now but no one is following us. Maybe it is just what waits above that scares you? ‘’ Mira questioned 8 as she tried to soothe her friend. 
 
8 closed her eyes, relaxing and clenching her muscles before letting to in a swoop motion, exhaling and slumping forwards slightly, ‘’ Yes that scares me. Inkopolis scares me… what will they be like to me up there? ‘’ 
 
‘’ They’ll be damn nice. ‘’ Mira jumped in, ‘’ they’ll be damn nice to you and I’ll make sure of it, I’ll make sure you feel welcomed Hachi, don’t worry. ‘’ 
 
The intrusion caught 8 off guard, all she could do is go along with Mira’s words of hope. 
 
‘’ Something else… I feel like something is just there. Waiting. ‘’ 
 
‘’ Well we have to tackle that thought. It surely can’t be that bad to what we’ve faced right? ‘’ 8 stared up frowning at Mira. Mira let go of 8’s hands and held her arm out. 8 grabbed onto her arm and tightly pulled herself up to stand. 
 
‘’ Maybe, ‘’ 8 muttered to herself, ‘’ I’ve never felt like this, but we do have to tackle it yes… ‘’ 
 
Mira let 8 hold onto her arm as they walked to the super jump. ‘’ You’re wise for someone so young. ‘’ 8 blurted out. 
 
Mira took the compliment and smiled, ‘’ Thanks! I’m only 20 though so… maybe- Yeah that’s considered young… ‘’ 
 
8’s jaw dropped as she stared at Mira, she took notice and stared back at 8. ‘’ You weren’t expecting that- How old are you? ‘’ 
 
8 looked down at the floor shimmying slightly, muttering out a soft, ‘’ 14. ‘’ 
 
Mira looked alarmed, and stunned. She was speechless and astounded, so many emotions at the same time. She tried to work the math up in her head. 
 
‘’ So I was in the training schools at 17... I’m 20 now… that was 3 years ago- YOU WERE 11 IN THE ARMY?? ‘’ Mira gasped out at 8 who seemed to have an eyebrow raised. 
 
‘’ Yes? They started enrolling people at that age no? ‘’ 
 
‘’ I was enrolled at 16..?! ‘’ Mira confessed and 8 went pale in her skin, she choked out a small oh. 
 
She had her childhood taken, against her will. To become something to be used for fighting, how could someone look at an Octarian- no. An Octoling child. And deem them fit for war?! Mira suddenly pulled 8 close for a hug, 8 hesitant at the sudden hug but let it happen. 
 
‘’ I’m so… sorry. We’ll give you a childhood you deserved when we get to the surface. You won’t miss out. ‘’ 8 felt shook, physically and emotionally, she didn’t know it was just snatched from her. She cautiously nodded.  
 
Mira let go after a few seconds, the hug felt like it drained, ‘’ you’re like a little kid...age and height. ‘’  
 
‘’ Am not! I am a reasonable height for my age. ‘’ 8 argued back. 
 
The mood was lightened by their witty banter and comebacks, ‘’ oh yeah? I was 5’7 at 14, now im 5’10. How tall are you? ‘’ 
 
‘’ 5’9. ‘’ 
 
Silence bled out the air. Mira stood shocked before the jump pad. Her face not expressing it but her mind definetly. 
 
‘’ Remind me to get your height checked when we get to the surface, Hachi. ‘’ 

Chapter Text

It’s cold.

Everything feels cold.

Like the body had no sort of life left to it, their pulse had dropped and the ink system was barely transporting ink around the bodies to sustain any living life.

But they weren’t dead.

They were just there.

They were just there.

Not their body, not their mind or even their brain. Not their wrists or actions, nothing was their own. 

They stood on the podium, both waiting.

Both stood up on the podium, one stood up much higher then the other, the other crouching, holding onto some sort of makeshift umbrella.

The other possessed an E liter.

And they waited.

Chapter Text

'' I already do not like this phase, '' 8 huffed as she stepped onto the platform, there laid a glowing yellow core, they had to transport it without it getting too damaged from enemy Ink.

Mira cocked the Octo shot in her hand, '' What's the worst that can happen! We've done everything so far! ''

She went to look back at 8, but she looked extremely annoyed, or even angry, had she done something wrong? Hachi snapped out her daze and stared confused at Mira.

'' You look annoyed.. you good?- ''

'' Huh? I'm not annoyed? I just have a.. odd thinking face. '' Mira chuckled at this thought, she'd met people who'd looked out of zone before when thinking but never someone who looked angry!- 8 was just that kinda Octo. Looked annoyed when thinking very deeply.

Mira ran her hands along the energy core, it tingled and zapped her as she pulled away from it rubbing her hands.

'' Don't touch it! Okay. Apparently one person shoots it to move, and the other splats- ''

Mira started firing at the orb and the platform moved. Looks like 8 was on orb duty.

Chapter Text

'' Oh my cod that was worse then station I03.. but we did it. '' 8 sighed high fiving Mira as the platform finally clipped with its platform, the yellow lights and whirring slowed down making it noticeable that it'd been connected and was fine to get off. The lights dimmed back and forth as the wires and tubes above pulsed, breathed, and funded the electricity. The orb installation was activated as a super jump pad was placed infront.

Mira grinned and went to jump into it before she noticed 8 laying behind.

Mira took a step back and turned, '' Is it the anxiety again? ''

'' No. Just- Turned into like...my gut feeling. Like i know it's right- ''

'' Well if anything bad happens you got me to help ya! ''

She stepped into the super jump.

8 quickly rushed to follow.

Chapter Text

8 and Mira landed on the metal platform, a Inkrail set in front of them to activate and ride it. Infront of them a spinal tower that looked like an elevator. The battery was there and it was their ticket to the surface. The Inkrail stood grey, colourless and deactivated.

'' Signals are close.. '' 8 shuddered as she shot the Inkrail making it flow with the comfortingly sweet rose ink as the thin metal stretched.

'' Signals? '' Mira questioned raising her eyebrows out of alarm. 8 never mentioned alarms.

8 Turned her back on Mira before rotating slowly with a guilty look, '' Okay so... I'm also... looking to escape but I lost someone...and their agent. So we're just looking for them on the way out too... '' Mira connected the pieces in her head, with a slight gasp of realisation as she connected everything, she nodded.

Mira placed one foot on the Inkrail, '' If the signals are stronger here then...you have a good chance, lets go! ''

Mira stood on the Inkrail letting it take her up to the tower, 8 strangled the grip on her gun as she followed after. 

They slid gracefully on the Inkrail, the sensation of grinding on pure metal had become a bit more familiar to Mira. the Inkrail stretched on before going to a pristine white platform with a checkpoint pad. Mira jumped off of it and ran a little, stopping to adjust to the floor. Hachi flipped off the Inkrail. and stumbled slightly. Her movements felt uncoordinated as nervousness threatened to consume her entirely.

Mira walked up to 8 helping her wipe the sweat off her forehead. She could practically feel the paranoia radiating off of 8 like an infectious aura.

'' Look, just maybe you're nervous about finally seeing the sun? Or getting to meet people, I get it! Your friends have to be here to help you escape right? We've got this Hachi. '' Mira flashed a soft smile at 8 who was relaxing and trying to regulate her breathing.

Inhale.

Exhale.

'' Alright! Got it. '' 8 exhaled as she clenched onto Mira's hand.

They both stepped on the platform, Mira clung to the handrail as the platform suddenly jolted up, seems like the platform was also a elevator. It moved with barely any noise, it effortlessly moved like new, it had a soft hum.

The platform split into two separating Mira and 8 onto different platforms. 

'' What the!- Hachi!- '' Mira called out to 8 as she stepped backwards away from the edge. 8 stared at the dislocated piece of the platform, the platforms seemingly separated to where if one of them tried to jump to the other, they'd fall. The platforms separated and clicked into two separate arenas as they both proceeded up at the same time.

'' 8! Can you hear me?! '' Mira yelled cupping her hands to make it louder.

Mira waited for a response, her arms dropped and dangled when she heard nothing, a few seconds later a faint 8 was yelling back.

'' Yeah! Uh- I can't do anything!- ''

Mira sighed in relief knowing she wasn't alone on her desolate platform.

The hum and faint unintelligible music drifted carelessly in the platform both relaxing and tensing up the girls. Mira leaned against the white glass case leaning her head against it.

She felt a little glad that she was able to help 8 towards the surface, help the younger Octoling have a shot at life but... she didn't know how much she could help the younger Octoling before she got too attached to let go. Her chest sank as she raised her bruised arm to wipe her eyes. Her chest raised and lowered quick. 

She wanted her friends back, she wanted to cling, cling and not let them go. But there was no possibility of knowing where they even were.

If they were safe, near the surface, or already gone.

If they were alive. There was a loud bang that Mira could hear echoing off of 8's platform. The platforms decided to freeze at the same time both stopping in place making both Mira and 8 jump at the sudden halt. Mira jumped up springing off her knees, electricity thudding through her body, except the electricity was just adrenaline to the banging noise. Mira stared over to 8's platform, her eyes glancing up at the metal podium that had someone standing on it.

It looked like a semi tall Inkling, with Aqua blue tentacles that looked like a general Inkling hairstyle. From what Mira could make out from the blur, the Inkling had a dark blackish cape flow behind them, and a weird gooey sludge protruding from the left side of the eye. Mira had been so lost in her thought that she hadn't noticed the almost duplicate metal tower in front.

There was two figures standing on top of the tower.

And they weren't happy Mira didn't notice them. One cupped their hands and yelled.  

Her head darted to the harsh yelling she could hear coming from somewhere not so far from her.

She glared up the podium.

'' Look at us when we're talking to ya! ''

Chapter Text

'' Look at us when we're talking to ya! ''

The boisterous noise came from above as the voice echoed. There stood not one but two figures atop of the podium.

One was a normal Octoling girl, she wore a black cardigan that was semi ripped around the sleeves, her neck was visible and it had some sort of burn marks etched into them, She wore black shorts with an orange line on them hitting the bottom of the hem. Her fingertips were a bright Aquamarine that were opposite to her pink fingertips. Her skin matched the exact colour of a Sanitized Octoling and the scars on her legs were a darker green. Her black greyish boots stood out just as much as her neon blue hair that faded into neon green a the tips.

At the top of her head she wore pink goggles that stood out against her pallet. Her sclera's were black and on the right side of her face a massive chunk of sanitization goo dripped off, resembling a burning fire at most. She stood loud and proud with a E liter 4k scope on her back.

Ochona.

Next to her stood another figure who's crouched onto their knees. His hands dangling at the front slightly. His skin matched Ochona's and his head hung low. His hat tilted forward slightly looking like it was going to tip and fall down. His front hair tentacle leaned forward into the air showing off the unnatural colour, Black fading into green. His sclera's were black just like hers.

The figure was hunched over almost leaning off the podium and had a stare that would rip into the thousands of victim's he'd faced. If he faced any.

His clothing was stained with the glowing ink on his Front-Zip vest. The right sleeve sliding down slightly down his wrist. He wore stained shorts that were slightly ripped from the hem. His socks look stained and his shoes lightly hug over the edge. He wielded a Splat roller on his back. The left side of his face which was entirely opposite to Ochona's had that same chunk of sanitization goo dripping off his eyes like a parasite, seeping and leaking into his skin.

Miles.

No. No. No. No. This cannot be happening.



Mira's whole world just came crashing down on her, and she couldn't pick herself back up.

'' Now ya knowledge our existence! Who are you again?- '' Ochona yelled down harshly stamping her little leg again

Mira opened her mouth to respond and Ochona laughed in her face, '' Hah! Just kiddin, I don't really care. What I care bout is winning. ''

'' We don't ha- have to.. f- fight! '' Mira choked out, a bead of sweat rolling from her forehead. She was nervous about battling the two. On one hand she was relieved, she'd finall found her friends again. But it also tore a heart through her, her friends were gone. What does sanitization do to the mind?

Was this sanitization or mind control? It looked like both? There was a slim chance at restoration maybe.

There was no reckoning or trying to console, or even bargain with Ochona. When she put her mind to something, she set to it.

She was also petrified of the fact she'd have to fight them to get anywhere close to seeing the sun again, mainly due to the fact that despite Ochona's general niceness or sassiness, she could aim, and she could aim quick. And Miles's general shyness and avoid of confrontation entirely switched when given a roller in Turf wars. He hid and striked when ready.

She was also afraid. Mainly because the two could absolutely 

Rip

Her

apart.

And they probably would in this state. It wasn't like they were entire control of their actions.

Her attention was snapped back when Ochona started loudly yelling at her. '' The only way ya get through life is FIGHTIN! And you gotta WIN those fights Mira. ''

'' You r- remember me..?! '' Mira's heart dropped, out of relief, out of desperation. Out of hope. A glimmer or a sparkle that her friend were still there.

Ochona's loud and over confident face shifted to one of pure malice, '' You think I'd forget you? I'll never fucking forget you. ''



'' Get her. ''

She nudged Miles using her foot, almost kicking him off the tower, he leaned and calmly dived off the tower. Doing multiple flips as he spun mid air. Mira frantically started painting the ground around her, firing rose pink shots of ink. She turned her back for one second and felt the splashdown seep into her back as her body was flung forward, her face crashing against the floor beneath her.

Ochona cackled hooking the E liter onto her back, she jumped off the tower aswell but landed on a rotating, flowing disk that light up. a temporary mobile bit of metal just for her to aim and stay out of reach.

-------------------------------------------

8 panted against the class cage, hearing the absolute torrent of ink shots fire from Agent 3's weapon splattering and colouring the floor below with their Ink. 

Mira threw herself against a white obstacle in the room to hide herself, she couldn't She just couldn't.

'' No.. no no no I- I can't fight both!- I can't- They'll pummel me into the ground! '' Mira's breathing was shaky and she kept fighting herself to just breathe properly. Her heart was beating and racing against her head.

She could hear the roller being flung and slapped against the floor clearly trying to cover ground. She can't fight an E liter AND a roller, they're both Instant Splats. A sharp pain rose up in her arm as she clutched it.

8 clutched onto her arm and rolled against the floor, the stingray had cut her deep and she could feel the ink dripping out her arm in a blotchy sickly coloured mess. They shared pain, physically not mentally.

Ochona whirred up the large charger, peeking her eye through the scope. Mira would have to outsmart a dangerous yet slow weapon, and a dangerous and a fast one.

Her eyes widened as Aqua Ink dripped from above, a little droplet of the Ink splattering into a small splotch. Her hand clutched onto the dirty ink stained collar as she tilted her head up slightly. She didn't want to look up. But she did. The roller placed above her head with a very smug Miles above who was crouching over the box. His hands intensely gripping on the handle of the roller, propped in a way he could easily lift and throw the roller. He raised the roller up.

A split second reaction, Mira threw herself forward, ignoring the excruciating pain in her arm that wasn't even her own, she didn't know that. She rolled forward barely avoiding the Roller. He grumbled and quickly stood up, grabbing and yanking the Roller up with him too, his fingertips clenching to hard into the grip it would leave marks in the future. His grin turned into a scowl as he raised the Roller to fling.

Ochona looked at the fight, peeking through her stealthy scope, she shifted on the tower to the left slightly, it would be hard to aim but she'd slip through. Mira panted grabbing her Octo shot. She threw herself out the way and started to fire underneath him. Ochona fired the charged up bullet, not noticing that Mira had changed positions and she ended up shooting Miles off the white box. Accidentally saving him from Mira, but also pushing him against the floor. 

'' ..fuck. '' Ochona lowered the charged as her eyes widened slightly wiping the sweat off her forehead.

Miles grumbled as he felt the sharp bullet punch into his back as he laid on the floor, not causing any physical harm due to being on the same coloured Ink, but it still hurt, it was like someone had just forcefully kicked him down onto the floor, he scrapped against it as Mira looked perplexed and quickly stared at the guilty Ochona.

Ochona snarled as she lifted the charger back to her eye to peep through the scope.

Mira grabbed her Octo shot and started firing at one of her downed friends. The ink seeped through his clothes onto his skin and broke his armour, the red sparks and torn effect hovering over as his body randomly jerked against the pain. Ochona hissed in pain too as she held shakily onto the E liter, her armour broke too..?

8 and Mira shared the same armour, pain, just for this fight. A synced battle.

Miles and Ochona shared armour, pain, just for this side. They didn't share it with 3 though.

Mira took the much needed down time from the two fighters to ink some much needed floor. She ran against the sticky aqua ink and fired her own out the nozzle, making a sickly concoction of colours. Miles clenched his fist, digging his fingers into the palm of his hand as he grabbed the roller, shifting to squid form, he jumped back to Ochona's platform slightly knocking her off balance. She stood up and used the E liter as a stand to support herself.

Mira kept continuing Inking the floor till she heard the Armour repair noise, click.

###

3 grabbed tightly on 8's hair bringing the Octoling up to her face. She dropped 8 kicking her down against the cold floor. 8 reached for the bomb.

Chapter Text

'' Hey here's a plan! Shoot her and not me! '' Miles stood on the platform holding his roller with one hand, his other hand a tight grip on Ochona's hair. His tone carried a harsh threat behind a smiling face, Ochona lifted her E liter smacking the metal nozzle against Miles legs, his hands shot up with a curse and he clutched his leg. Ochonas fingers tightened on his hair and tugged him to crouch down.

'' Hey here's a plan! Roll your cod damn roller properly and HIT HER WITH IT. '' Her voice hissed at him with malice squeezing his hair making him recoil and stand up properly so she lost her grip. Both sanitized stared at each over with an intense hatred despite being killing partners. Mira's eyebrow raised at the bickering. Maybe this is their true selves towards each other? But they were all genuinely good friends so...so maybe it was for another reason.

It wasn't the objective, the objective was to win as she started painting the floor beneath her, running around shooting the octo-shot avoiding stepping in the aqua Ink.

---

8 threw the bomb, it surprisingly blew upon contact straight into 3's chest, their eyes widened as the sharp edge of the splat bomb dug into their chest and blew upon touch breaking the hero armour. Hachi panted and clutched onto their soaking arm. Taking the chance without a doubt to fire a few more bullet shots at 3 knocking the Inkling finally off their feet fully damaged.

8 winced and gritted their teeth, forcing herself to stand tall on her feet. Her breathing heavy and slightly laboured as her grip loosened on her weapon and more on her octo shot.

---

Ochona steadied her unbalanced aim on the E liter scope, staring through the glass to aim at the unwary Octoling as she leaned on the edge. As Miles leaned off the platform switching mid air to the bubbler and started chasing.

Ochona leaned off the edge of the platform.

The air started picking up. 

Chapter Text

Ochona's face hit the floor with a large clang, dropping the E liter. She hadn't expected to well...fall. Miles and Mira both looked over surprised and halted their fighting. She groaned and rubbed her face frustrated to ease the pain, she lifted her head, a small trail of sanitized ooze dripping out her nose, nosebleed?

'' Did you seriously fall off your platform?? The fuck are you doing? '' He reached his hand to help Ochona up, despite the annoyance and hissing in his voice he tried to at least show he cared. She ungratefully slapped it away with a hiss forcing herself to stand up feeling ridiculed. She didn't need help!

'' No! I just slipped Cod, don't fucking touch me. '' She scowled wiping the trail off her nose smudging her black gloves.

'' So you did fall? Damn I'm just giving you help and you slap me, the horrors of help! '' He rolled his eyes bitterly and leaned back to grab the roller he dropped.

Mira hid behind the white wall. Her heart accelerating probably faster then she could ever run. She tossed out a splat bomb as it imploded on the two knocking them in different directions damaging the equal armour they had.

'' I can't take this anymore. '' Mira huffed to herself clutching onto the weapon. She was overwhelmed. And she knew she was. She didn't want to see her physically break down, in fact she shuddered at the thought. They'll just see it as a chance to mock her and splat her.

As Mira huffed to herself, on the verge of collapsing, not just her body but every single ache in her body was tremendously painful, her fingers tightened onto the weapon, her mind raced with an idea. Oh an idea, she darted over to the damaged Ochona, who lay on the floor muttering swear words and rubbing her eyes.

She had an idea.

And she prayed, prayed to whoever above or below in this time that this damn plan worked.

She had no one to depend on but above.

Mira quickly ran over to Ochona who was laying damaged onto the floor. Trying, rushing, forcing herself to stand, all she could do was curve her fingers against the floor, almost claw like as she tried to force her numb limb arms up. Ochona was muttering swear words and...rubbing her eyes? Mira roughly grabbed onto Ochona's hair forcing the girl to look up. She yelled out of pain. Mira quickly forced the nozzle of the Octo shot to Ochona's neck. The strong demeanour of the sanitized instantly fading as she realised what was going on.

'' W- wait we can- can talk about this! '' She clutched the nozzle of the Octo shot,  forcing herself to look down and avoid Mira's gaze which was ultimately hard due to the tight yanking on her hair and forcing herself to close her eyes. Her face flushing a darker blush out of embarrassment. Mira watched as the strong facade of the sanitized quickly crumbled upon realization.

'' Talk about this?! Are you seriously kidding me?! '' Mira groaned rolling her eyes out of annoyance before looking back at Ochona, who was audibly taking in deep breaths and staring at the floor. Her clawed fingers loosened on the gun.

Mira pulled the gun back slightly.  '' Are you...crying? '' Mira asked as she pulled the gun back slightly, seeing a physical shift in Ochona’s demeanor.

'' N- no! Don't think of me so low and weak! I an not- not crying!- '' Her voice ached and trembled, using her hands to push away the nozzle but Mira only returned it's position to Ochona's neck slightly pressing it into her skin eliciting a pained wince and a small sob.. Her bark was definitely worse then her bite. 

Mira pulled the gun back slightly,  "I don't think of you as low or weak, Ochona," Mira whispered, her grip loosening slightly. '' I never have... ''

'' W- who's Ochona??- '' She shook with an eyebrow raised. Confusion evident in her raised eyebrow slightly gritting her teeth.

Mira's hearts skipped a beat, she swore they stopped for a second as she pulled back in disbelief, disbelief rushing to her head and body. So this wasn't her friend anymore. But it still was, oh god. Mira was torn between wanting to help her friend despite the danger she posed towards.

She shaped her mouth to speak before feeling a huge weight press onto her only to be interrupted by Miles getting up and attempting to splat her with a roller. The weight of the roller bearing down on her, Mira released the gun, her hands burning with ink as she struggled to fend off Miles. Mira almost crushing under the weight as the roller slightly slid off her hands burning them due to the Aqua Ink.

She hissed rubbing her hands on her legs, grabbing the octo shot she forced it back onto Ochona's throat, the sanitised choking out a small squeak as her finger was on the E liter trigger.

Miles raised the roller to fling and eventually crash on Mira.

And the blue Octoling only had one shot.

One shot.

Don't fuck it up.

Chapter Text

She couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to fight it anymore. That sickly Ink fucking burned her throat like hot water. She lurched forward and tried to spit it out. Choke or die trying.

Ochona lurched forward wretching up the sickly Sanitization liquid. The blue Ink fired from the Octo Shot stung and made her gag. It almost felt like it could paralyse her entire body if any more was forced into her skin. 

She pulled her head forwards, her hand quickly slamming her hand over her mouth.

The Ink colours mixed, making a sickly dark teal colour. That glowed and hummed, her head went dizzy as her fingers clung to her face to retain some sort of dignity.

She slumped in the corner of the arena. Her whole body was just hunched, crouched over as she felt the colour physically melt from her face; The aqua skin that had previously tainted her body and fingertips drained. Leaving them a pale hue of her previous skin colour.

He swung the roller and she kept moving back. He was persistent and it hurt to fight and move against him. Mira had never seen him move the roller in such way. With such anger. Rage. Hatred. Malice. A whole entire being. Mind control does that to the body doesn’t it?

It isn’t them. But it’s what they could be.

In the eyes of others, it’s a uncontrollable thing devoid of any sort of emotion.

In the eyes of the other Sanitized, he was just like them.

Flinging, spinning, jabbing. He moved the weapon almost in a sword like way, in a beautifully threatening way. The attempts to hit were futile and almost impossible to avoid from the receiving end. 

The weight of the roller almost crushed Mira’s body and spirit , she could feel her body heaving underneath her having to make up and burn extra energy to just throw the roller away. It wasn’t even anything special, just a normal splat roller.

And yet, it felt like a fucking Dynamo.

He wasn’t looking where he was stepping, and despite that he still kept swinging through the pink Ink. The Roller spinning at almost the rate it would be considered a tactical weapon.

Ochona gripped at the Ooze on her eye. The stinging and ache ripping into her body, like hot lava being injected straight into her veins. She desperately clawed at the Ooze, trying to rip it straight out her own eye. It latched on like a persistent parasite. It was too much to bear as she tried to use her sleeve and anything available to scrape it off.

The two still continued to battle head on head, Miles shifting his leg under Mira to pull her onto the floor, she landed on her back with a cry as he raised the roller again. 

Mira thrusted her body to the side, in an attempt to dodge the slap. He instead pushed the roller on her arm driving the throbbing pain already on her stinging arm. Could reckoning be a option? Not with the way he was pressing that roller to practically squish her.

He raised the roller.

Mira clenched her hands and tucked her head into her fists waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting..?

He swung the roller and it ran out of Ink. His fists clenched against the grip, and quickly looking for an Aqua patch to refill the ink counter. Haste was not on his side due to the ink blotches. 

Everything was stabbing, it was unimaginable to imagine the pain. She buckled her knees up, harshly breathing. Clasping inter her arm. With her weaker arm she grabbed the Octo Shot. 

Nearly empty.

Aim. Fire

Chapter Text

Her head hung low and so did her breathing. It was shallow and it didn’t even feel like she was living at this point. Her hearts slowed down and she suddenly felt a draft hit her but no windows were open. She felt freezing and boiling at the same time, the coldness in her body clashing with the heat in her head. How would one even begin to process this?

Her hands were sweating, almost sliding off the floor beneath her as she struggled to keep herself up. All she could hear is the fighting. It’s the only thing she could hear. Fighting. It never ended. She clutched her ears loudly bawling. But no one could hear her in her own desolate corner that she’d forced her mind into. 

Or maybe they just didn’t want to hear her.
That could be it. No one wanted to. They’d already left her behind. She’d already convinced herself at that point they they did. But they didn’t. She could still hear them.

Fighting. Fighting. It’s all she could hear.

It got to the point she was about to rip her own ears off. It hurt. It hurt like a thousand stabs in the ears. It hurt so fucking much. Tears dripped down her scarred face, her pupils diluted, her fight or flight settling into her. She froze. 

Her breathing was laboured and heavy, suddenly trying to take in as much air as she could as the corners of her vision blurred ever so slightly. Her throat closed up mentally and she was having a fight with no one but herself. No one but herself. And what she used to be, and what she refused to become. Like them.

Fighting. Fighting. It’s all she could feel.

Its all she could think.

Having grown up around this sort of behaviour and attitude from her guardians it was soon to imprint on her. Define her. Become a part of her. Mold into her. Leech into her. Whether she wanted it or not it would be sooner then later.

She dug her fingers into her head; almost ripping her own skull open. Her teeth clenched gritting into each other and she swore she could taste her own ink. Probably due to the amount of bodily injuries. Who knew even the amount of internal injuries she could have. The stench of sweat and blood filled her senses overwhelming her head. 

Her fingertips were pale, and she was trying to block off all these emotions. All these scenarios, and she was only jumping from one to another. Her naturally beaming eyes were a pale colour of what they used to be. Now bleak patches of colours shook around her eyes. Shaking.

Fighting. Fighting. It’s all she could see.

It’s the only thing she’s good at. 

Is she really any better then those Sanitized? The Army members? She was a good fighter and had interests. But was she really better then them if this is what she did? To herself and others, physically and mentally?

Where they any different?

After all, she’s just some kid with a huge hunk of metal, getting herself and her only friends into trouble she caused. It all comes rushing back to her like a tsunami wave, and it all crashed down at once. She clutched the growing migraine in her head.

Stop it.

Make it stop.

Ochona spied the E liter not so far from her feet.

When did she drop her weapon?

She lunged and desperately skidded over to grab the weapon. It was only when she grabbed it she gasped, feeling the weapon oddly burn against her hands. But she didn’t care. It was the only thing she could physically cling to. And rely in this moment.

Make it stop or I’ll do it myself.

She thought she was all alone. She’d convinced herself the darkness her mind was in was due to her actions. And that she was doomed to stay. Alone.

Ochona physically screamed charging up the weapon she fired out the full charger shot and continued to until the weapon was out of ink. Aiming to hit nothing. But to just have some type of noise to distract herself from the fighting her eyes shut tight; Slightly burning against her own skin.

The fighting stopped, but it was not due to her actions. No. Her actions had nothing to do with what got her here. It was all in her head.

It was always in her head.

Physically. Nothing had been going on. She had just had a slight reaction to the Ink fired at her, bringing memories back of unloveable times where not even her own.. guardians gave two shits about her. Mentally? She was hearing everything from her past again.

Fighting. Fighting. It had all quietened down.

But she couldn’t tell if she liked the silence. Or rather she’d drown in that too.

The two Octolings laid on the floor slightly far from her. They’d tired eachover out from all the fighting. Mira laid in the mix of Aqua and Blue ink flat out. Her Octo shot dropped in the middle of the two Octolings, almost teasing them. Waiting for one of them to grab it and put the other out their misery.

Miles’s laid on the floor in the blue Ink. His hand bent forward in an almost unnatural way probably due to the way he fell. His roller dropped to the side dripping with ink. Aqua. The fight. It all looked like one whole crime scene. She’d guessed they’d been too distracted with each other to even notice her.

Why doesn’t anyone notice her?

Ochona felt a pain sting through her as she crouched. The palm of her hands slapping into her knees forcing her eyes down. The paint circulated around her entire body but it all stayed nice and buried in her head. That’s when she caught a look at her lower body. Her legs slightly tinted aqua. Her fingertips their natural pink colour, but now her arms had a slight aqua tint up to almost her shoulder.

What the fuck happened to her? She looked nearly half Sanitized and nearly dead from the amount of Ink she was loosing from the cuts, gashes, and strains in her arms and legs. Not even mentioning the two giant hash wounds on her stomach

She can’t remember anything. And that hurt

Did she do this all to herself? Or was someone else finally to blame instead of herself? She’d never know. 

Unless those two did. She stared back at her passed out friends. 

Fours words kept replaying in her mind while she was… gone. Paralysed or possessed, who knew. 

Sanitization is the Key.

She almost collapsed onto the ink beneath her almost shifting into swim form to hide. Hiding was all she could think. It overloaded her mind, her nerves. Her chest and her hearts. Hiding was just what she wanted. To run. To Hide and not come out.

What was she just in..a state of limbo? Hell? Heaven? Did that place such exist for squids?

What did she do?

And why did everything feel like a blur…

Ochona kneeled into the blue ink. Her tentacles had seemingly changed into the blue colour beyond her will. She was too tired to shift back. Her head dropped forwards and she crouched in the ink effectively hiding.

How was she meant to help her own friends if she couldn’t even help herself?

It hurt too much to think. It would hurt to much too help. She wasn’t weak for this right?

No. 

No.

Hiding was just what she needed, them worrying about her was the last thing she needed.

She crouched blending into the ink.

Chapter Text

Mira clutched her throbbing head. Fingers and claws digging into her tentacles in an attempt to make her feel something that wasn’t the throbbing, writhing pain in her arm. She dragged her head and torso up and looked around. It was messy, she was messy and covered in splatters of pinkish and cyan Ink. While presumably Miles laid in front of her also unconscious. His head laid on the floor as the Roller was knocked to the side a far distance.

” Get up…Get up please. “ She whispered to herself, dragging herself forward with her left arm and frail legs. She pulled his face up with the tentacle on the side of his head to get a good look at his face. God that… whatever it was stretched across his face. Like a bloody vein; or a spider web. It stretched across the right side of his face, hiding under the eye. The hot water scars he had obtained prior to all this wasn’t any help.

Mira’s eyes widened horrified. She didn’t know whether if she should leave him alone. Was he even beating? Breathing? Thinking? Her questions were answered quickly as he scrunched his face, pulled his head away and tucked it back between the floor and his chest. Mira sighed in relief. She pushed herself up with her left arm. Her right arm felt like a knife was stabbed into it. And was being twisted forcefully left and right. It was something internal or something all in her head.

She forced herself to stand. Pushing herself against her own bodily limits. Everything in her mind was screaming at her to sit down and relax but she couldn’t. She couldn’t just sit and take this pain like a little bitch. So she stood. Leaning on one foot more then the other. She stared at the battlefield. How the hell had she managed to complete this? How did she take on them both at the same time? It was…hard. More then hard. Her mind was doubting everything. She should’ve died. Splatted. So why didn’t she? Maybe it was their bickering. 

She shifted her gaze around. Taking a cautionary step to see if she could walk, but almost tripped over the enemy ink just barely landing on her feet. When did Miles get a cape she wondered. There was a 9 etched onto the back. Maybe it was just a random piece of fabric they had laying around and have to him while Sanitized. But that’s the thing. He isn’t Sanitized. He wasn’t. But he was. Mind control? Hijacking? His movements while fighting felt.. a little sloppy she’ll say. Usually he’d kill targets head on so why didn’t he. It creeped into the back of her mind she wasn’t meant to survive it. His shirt was slightly pulled up from where he fell.

Mira saw it more clear the more she stared. His legs were a permanent shade of Sanitized green. And it only faded out when it got to his stomach, it fully faded once reaching the torso. It was like a pair of long songs that were meant to look like a different skin tone. She used the front of her foot to gently pull the shirt down. Something felt wrong and something was wrong. There was definitely another person. She was just forgetting them.

Where’s Ochona?

Wouldn’t she be knocked out too if they shared the same pain? Or was it all a coy during the fight. Maybe she’s finally reached the point of no returning. Ochona’s always had some sort of bad mental health but it was futile to talk about it. Maybe this might’ve been the straw for her. To finally hide away and finish the job…

No. That wouldn’t happen. It wouldn’t it- it couldn’t. Mira had an idea. Maybe she was hiding. Her fingers locked around the Roller, still gleaming with Aqua Ink, she had to be careful to not splat Ochona if she found her, so she slowly started rolling it.

The platform beneath them was still moving and she thought to herself what she’d gotten into, on pure accident. Was she a bad person for attacking? If she could’ve she would’ve reasoned with them absolutely. Reasoning was off the table. Was she no less of a Hero then a Attacker? Or was she a survivor? Just like them. Just trying to scrape against the floor and walls for any sort of chance to live. Well after all she was just trying to get her friends back. She thought about 8. What was she going to do to help the younger Octoling? She promised her somethings that she wasn’t sure if she could provide.

Mira aimlessly rolled it around the stage leaving small splotches of pink ink so they could stand in if the others chose to wake up. The thought bubbles in her mind. Was the Sanitized really the hidden versions of their souls? All the others felt so… cold. Or at least docile on the train. Like it was order, order, order. Miles and Ochona didn’t feel like that. Sure it felt like an Order was being placed, they’d never attack her normally. She hoped they wouldn’t. But maybe it was their true feelings. They weren’t evil were they? No! Course not. Just mind control.

Her rolling was stopped by a bump once she hit the corner. A sniffling Ochona curled clutching her knees to her torso. Praying for that Roller to run her over again. Mira dropped the Roller to the side and dropped to her knees in front of Ochona. Her hand laid gently on her rough shoulder.

” Hey, Ochona… “ Mira whispered soothingly, the girl didn’t bring her head up to see who it was, too enveloped in her own tears. Mira frowned and tilted to the side. Her hand stayed on her shoulder, thumb rubbing the skin. It was the closest she could give to a hug right now.

Suddenly the realisation a whole other cephalopod was right in front of her set in, and Ochona lifted her head slowly. Oh god Mira was the last person she expected to see, and the last person she wanted to see. She whacked the hand away and clutched back into herself. But she wasn’t angry with her, she was angry with herself.

She’d let herself get enveloped by Order and instructions that she hurt the person that actually gave two damns about her. That actually cared and worried for her. And she hated that. Her cries turned into sobs, and then into quiet sniffles and weeps. As if trying to listen to Mira if she were even to say anything. She hated how she couldn’t even describe her own feelings, what was going on in her head. She fucking hated it. Why was talking so damn hard to her best friend?! She felt so alone but so close at the same time. And it was just a rush of emotions that she wasn’t unable to process.

” You’re not physically hurt, are you? Outside of mind control of course. “ The words caught her off guard as she sniffled leaning her head up. It made Ochona look down at herself again. Mira took notice, she had the same condition as Miles did. Legs that Sanitized colour, and it only faded going to her torso. Mira stared at her face. It seemed Ochona had been crying for what was more then a little while. Full on crying as her eyes were a little red, and she had tear stains on her face. There was a large scar that stretched on the left side of her face too. Hiding under her eye but over too. Her left eye still a glowing aquamarine, that seemed to be a side effect. It was probably the same with Miles.

Physically hurt? No. Mentally? Way too much. Mira held onto Ochona’s arm and she instantly knew what the girl was checking, so she slapped her away.

” What was- “

” What if I hurt you again. “

The question was more like a threat. More of a demand to know what would Mira do if she hurt her again. She knew she could hurt her, she didn’t want to but she could. She hurt her on accident. Almost managing to shoot her head off a few times. She does remember shooting Mira in the leg.

So that’s where the burning sensation in her leg came from. One of Ochona’s shots, she shoved a sigh down her throat. The wound was almost healed but it left a slight circle scar due to the gooey sludge of Ink. 

“ Mira what if I hurt you again..? “ Her throat croaked slightly, the threat turning into more of a plea for an answer as she started at her friend.

” You won’t. I know you won’t because that wasn’t you. “

” How do I know if it wasn’t me?! Mira I can barely remember anything! I wasn’t in my own body Mira, I don’t know WHERE I was but it wasn’t here! I was a vessel- what if it’s still in me?!- “ Her breathed hitched as she tried to take in as much oxygen as she could before continuing on her rant.

” Mira how do I know I’m not a danger to you?! Or to Miles? Or to anyone I know?! How do I know I wasn’t made to be something to kill, or to be- be violent! Was that my fucking fate Mira?! Just confirm it already, tell me what I am!- “ Ochona yelled leaning forward. More really she was yelling at the floor, at that Aqua ink. She felt surrounded in it.

” Why don’t you get it?!- No one gets it! I just!- I just- oh! “ She scooped some of the ink in her hand. And then squeezed her hand intensely hard to splatter it. She watched it drip from her hand. She felt herself being pulled. Mira’s hands curved around her torso. Her head hung over Ochona’s shoulder. At first the pink Octoling retaliated. Trying to shove Mira off with the palm of her hands. Her chest paced up and down before she held her hands at her side panicked.

She really needed a hug. She didn’t realise to but she did.

Ochona’s eyes swelled up again with tears before leaning her head on Mira’s shoulder. Her arms instinctively wrapped around her friend and she started weeping into her shoulder. The platforms connected again. 

Chapter Text

“ Are you gonna wake up soon..? “ He nervously shook the two bodies underneath him. The smell of ocean water and ink strong, infiltrating their noses like a harsh virus. 

“ What.. happened..? “

” You uh. Fell asleep and wouldn’t wake up, “ He looked like he’d been crying, sniffling and wiping his eyes, “ So I carried you two to the.. exit. Which is this helicopter. “

Eight leaned next to a Lime Green Inkling, they’ve both nodded asleep, battle injuries dragged on their skin. Mira’s head nodded on Ochona’s shoulder, the blue Octoling barely awake and just wanting a damn nap. Ochona semi pulled away from Mira, who just leaned against the wall to sleep.

” Oh. “ It was an almost silent response. 

“ Can we go back to…normal? “

” What do you mean? “

She sighed and motioned towards her face. Her legs. His face and hands. 

“ Us. Do you think she’ll ever trust us again? “

” She trusts us enough that she’s comfortable to fall asleep around us..of course she will, don’t say things like that. “

Ochona muttered a apology, she kept staring at Mira, and then at the water.

Huh.

Such a familiar colour. Made her sick to look at, she’ll never be truly be the same again. She remembered truest nothing, and that hurt her. That made her heart ache and throb. Because why couldn’t she? Was she really that useless, she couldn’t remember a damn thing!

She didn’t even remember how she GOT Sanitized. It just went dark. And she felt like her limbs were dragging, dragging and strings were pulling on them, like a twisted show. A show that others delightfully fought.

He remembered.

Everything.

He saw it happen didn’t he? It wasn’t like they gave him a chance to look away. No. No they practically drowned her in that sanitization liquid. They practically force fed her the sickly solution.

But why could he remember and she couldn’t? 

At this point Ochona’s shoving all her feelings down to her stomach, hoping to whatever luck she had left that she didn’t throw those feelings back up.

” Do you remember anything? “ She asked with a deadpan expression. 

“ I.. I do. I could actually see what was going on, my mind was just overloaded. Like with rage in that moment. It was fuelling me. “ He responded sitting on the ledge, legs dangling.

It went silent before Ochona cocked her head to the side, letting out a huff.

” Would you rather remember everything, or remember nothing..? “

” Everything. “

” How so? “ Her eyes wandered to glare at him, he stared out into the water.

He shrugged his shoulders, “ If you forget it all, you don’t really grow from it do you? “ 

It made her go quiet and think.

” It just…dwells inside you, filling and filling. And then it pops. Like a balloon. I’d rather remember everything no matter how gruesome it was. Because then I can remember how much I’ve grown from it. “ 

They say in silence, the other members on the helicopter seemingly ignoring their existence. Ochona nods, not in agreement but understanding. She’d rather just remember nothing.

Because remembering nothing is better then feeling like nothing.

Plus it can’t come back to haunt her if she can’t even remember it! That’s what she told herself last time and look at her now. Remembering everything once again.

It was gonna be a long flight.

Chapter Text

Ochona clutched her head as she popped the pill in her mouth, it was just numbing down the pain, and at this rate it’d never disappear. She’d been told to take two of them, twice a day. Because she practically had a parasite glued onto her damn face. She’d been forced to stay home and recover much to her distaste of that idea.

It was how she recovered! Going out and ignoring her own feelings! Least she met a cute girl while walking to their apartment.. even got her number-

Its a total pain staying home.

Mira and Miles are at each others damn throats, and not in the choking way either! Maybe to distract themselves from their inner feelings they made out and.. other stuff that she blocked out her mind. It definitely didn’t block out from her ears though. That’s what headphones and loud musics for though!-

She met a girl on the way back home, cod. From replaying footage in her head she was a mess. Maybe she should try make it up to her.. The Inkling was really cute…she muttered to herself. What was her name? Vya!

She’d met her while walking off the helicopter onto solid ground. Her balence still woozy so she was leaning on Mira like a drunk idiot. Except without the drunk part. And more likely a need for her actual body to work.

***

” Ugh.. my everything hurts. “

“ I know, that’s why we’ll keep you home for a few days to recover. “ Mira responded.

Ochona leaned off of Mira’s shoulder, “ I can walk on my own! “ She snarkily responded and started to limp walk. She hadn’t physically injured herself just… that sanitisation had physically pushed her past her limits and made her almost drop to the floor.

It was a daze for a few seconds before she bumped into someone’s back, who they turned around to see. Ochona stumbled backwards into Mira, waving her hands around to catch herself, which was most likely on Mira’s shoulder to not fall.

” I.. I’m so so sorry i- uh- I didn’t mean to- “

” Oh uh- don’t worry about it..? “ 

The person who turned around made Ochona’s heart sink. In the kinda good way.

An Inkling girl, silverish Ink tentacles, not white, but not grey, silver. Cut into a sorta messy bob, two on the front, one on the middle. She had these striking yellow eyes that Ochona just couldn’t.. stop staring at! Yellow like the passionate ember of a soft burning fire. 

She had this purplish tint to her, it was hard to tell if it was her vision or literally physically there, it made her look ethereal. She wore this striking black jacket with puffy sleeves with a semi ripped red undershirt just showing her bold and extravagant personality.

Her fingers were tinted yellow, can Inklings tint their fingers now? She wondered how they were doing that as it seemed almost biological for Octolings to have tinted fingers. She wore these dark silvery socks with yellow circuits running up the socks almost as if wiring was on them. And these bold white boots which made her seem a little taller then she already was.

” …Woah you’re hot. Wait- Pretty!- No- Neither!- “ Ochona mumbled out as Vya looked her up and down from how long she’d been staring. She clutched her hands to her face waiting to disappear on the spot. To vanish. Then suddenly her calls were answered as Mira swooped in grabbing her friend by the hand.

“ Sorry!- Sorry she’s not.. herself right now. Tired, VERY tired. Sorry. “ 

The Inkling chuckled before giving them her full attention. Ochona noticed the sharp beak she had that slightly overlapped her fangs. She’d never noticed the varying sizes and shapes of beaks in Inklings. Frankly cause she never knew many squids.

” All good. And hey, you’re not bad yourself even if it looks like you crawled out a underground facility! “

I mean.. they did but that’s not the point.

” You’re all good. Friends? “

She was so forward with her question, that it came more of a demand for Ochona to say yes. The Octoling stuttered before Mira nodded. 

“ Yeah friends..!- “

” Number..? “ Ochona mumbled, pretty sure the pink had spread across her entire face now as she felt herself burning up. If she didn’t look like a embarrassed mess before, she was a hundred percent sure she did now. 

“ You want my number? I don’t normally give it out… “ Ochona’s heart dropped, “ Buuuutt, you’re really cute so eh why not! “ 

Ochona’s ears rung and fizzed as she could practically hear nothing. Worry stretching that if the ear ringing was physical or her just zoning out. Cute?? Did she just call her CUTE?? Oh cod, her heart sped up and her hands gripped to the inside of her jacket. Her face steaming like a kettle, and she swore her pupils were spinning. She was brought out her daze by Mira tapping her shoulder. 

“ We can go now Ochona… you look like you’re about to pass out, c’mon. “ Worry was etched on her friends face as she started walking. Ochona clutched onto Mira’s hand. Please. Take her away from people right now before she dropped dead.

***

…And that’s how she made a fool of herself in front of a new potential friend. She leaned over the counter staring at her phone. Maybe she should call her, invite her over and explain.. how’d she even explain that to her?? They’d just met like a few days ago. Sure they called and everything, they know decently well about each other hell, Vya called the scar on her face badass. Said it made her look cool…

And if Vya said it looked cool, she found it cool. Even if it did hurt her appearance. The scar was starting to grow on her.. not physically but mentally. Maybe it wasn’t bad to have scars. The others did and they seemed fine.. Cod.

Anxietys been overwhelming her for the past few days, eating at her like a bug. Or a bird, or a parasite. Whatever existed. 

The medication was meant to help her numb down the pain. Not make her feel like she was going to throw up every two damn seconds. And then her vision blackened out, and she was sitting over the toilet bowl.

This is gonna be a long night. 

She didn’t want to disturb whatever those two were doing. Believe me she paid the price for that one time… and she couldn’t scrub the audio out her head, so she picked up her phone. And called Vya.

Chapter Text

“ Aren’t you gonna check up on her? Or has she just boarded herself up in her room? “

” That’s not like her at all! She just needed some alone time like we do..” Mira mumbled laying on Miles’s chest. Alone time was a stretch but if you piece together what happened you’ll know.

Sure, when they got back from everything it had been a bit.. on edge. Everyone was tense. They’d said stuff they shouldn’t have. With will or against it. Breakdowns had happened. And it may be breaking more the repairing the bond. They’ll all work on it. They always do. And sure, Ochona had changed, but so had everyone else. Physically and mentally. The most to change was Ochona.

She became withdrawn. She stared at walls sometimes for long periods of time, she was prone to being sick more often, her confidence and bold attitude stayed the same. It was just initiating that side of her that was the problem. No matter how much Mira or Miles tried to talk to her, she wouldn’t budge. Like a metal chain and lock that was barricaded. It’s like a hypnotic trance that’s easy to snap her out of for some time, but she always returned to it.

Maybe it was to cope.

Or to hide. Who knew.

” Alone time isn’t hiding in a room for 7 hours straight.. “

” You’re saying that like we aren’t any better.. hypocritical!- “ Mira chuckled before rolling off the bed and landing on her rugged legs.  “ I’m just going to check on her. “

Mira got up, and left the bedroom. She fixed up her messy, rugged tentacles and rubbed her eyes. Sleeping and messily kissing tired her way too much. She knocked on Ochona’s door, opening her mouth to speak, except she heard ushering and shushing. 

“ Shh.. shh. Yeah?!- “ Ochona yelled out.

” Ochona it’s me, Mira. Just wanted to check up on you! “

” Uh- im all GOOD, no need to!- “ Mira opened the door, she did still wanted to see her best friend. Before noticing the suspiciously inkling shaped person under the blanket. 

Mira stared before Ochona grabbed a pillow, placing it on the bump under the blanket, a poor attempt to hide it.

” Ochona, are you hiding someone? “

“ NO. “ She slammed on her blanket, as if trying to smush the bump, a soft voice murmured underneath the blanket, yelling out of pain. Mira leaned on the doorframe, she squinted and raised an eyebrow. “ Stop looking at me smug! “ Ochona hissed out. 

A head popped up from the covers underneath. A Inkling with a messy bob haircut, cheeky blushing face, and dazed yellow eyes.

“ Am I interrupting something? “ Mira teased, curling her lips into a even more smug smile.

” NO. NO YOU’RE NOT GET OUT- “ Ochona slammed her fists again into the blankets, her face scowling, the colour of a pink blush spread across her face. Vya placed her hands on Ochona’s face pulling her closer.

“ You’re blushing!~ “ Vya teased.

Ochona placed a full palm on her face pushing Vya back, her hands a shaky sweaty mess. “ Stop biting that fucking lip! And YOU! “ She turned back to Mira.

” Oh I can close the door if you two wanna continue your makeout- “

Ochona’s fist grabbed onto a pillow, and she chucked it at Mira, who’d foreseen her actions and jumped, closing the door. “ NOT A MAKEOUT! “ She shouted afterwards.

” I SUPPORT YOU “ Mira shouted afterwards with a chuckle, leaving Ochona in a flustered angry state.

It was silent for a few moments after.

A meek voice slowly spoke up.

” So it wasn’t a makeout..? “ Vya pouted, looking genuinely sad at the words. Ochona pulled her close, planting a kiss on Vya’s forehead.

” No, it definitely was. “

Chapter Text

“ She is NOT my girlfriend. “ Ochona grumbled, tightly clenching onto the spoon as she ate her slushy: if she drank it normally it gave her a migraine. “ And for the record, i don’t need you going around saying I’m dating people when I’m clearly not. “

” I wasn’t going around saying that! “ Mira scrubbed at the plates, semi leaning over the sink. “ And I wasn’t saying anything to anyone, just Miles. “

Ochona rolled her eyes and popped the spoon in her mouth again, least Mira got her a slushy to make up for the embarrassment.

” I don’t care who you date, I just hope they’re good enough for you. “ Mira shrugged before aggressively scrubbing at a hard spot on the plate.

She put the sponge down and grinned placing a rubber gloved hand on her hip, “ So you just randomly kiss your friends on the face over and over to the point you smudge ink? “ 

“ No! I don’t need to tell you what happened!- “

” Legally you do, I’m your adoptee. So In my rule book you’re still a young squid till 21. That doesn’t mean I’m going to force it out it you though! Tell me when you’re comfy! “

There’s a awkward silence as a pink blush creeps over the Octolings face. She stabs awkwardly at her now semi liquid drink.

” Just.. a bit of kissing. “ She confessed

” As long as it doesn’t go further- “

” Mira! I’m like, 18! I can go further if I want! “ She shoved another scoop of slush into her mouth realising it’s slightly melting.

” Consents important on both sides Ochona, plus you’ll need to meet her family, and do a bunch of sleepovers- “

Ochona blurted out cutting Mira off, , ” Cod sometimes you do act like my mum.. “

Its silent as Mira turned backed around and scrubbed at the inside of the sink now, to just not turn around, she wasn’t sure if she should be happy Ochona could trust her like a mum. Or devastated to be compared as her mum.

” I- I didn’t mean that I’m sorry- “ Ochona slightly choked on her slushy, Mira turned around as Ochona padded herself, she semi got off her chair and placed a hand on Mira’s shoulder, trying to tug her to look at her again. 

” I know you didn’t. I.. hope I’m better then her if she was what you called a mother. “

She sighed silently as her attempt to regain her attention was ignored, she sat down and viciously stabbed at her slushy a few more times leaving some thuds in the table. 

“ Please don’t be mad at me… I really didn’t mean it I swear- “ She tried once again.

Mira scrubbed the dishes with a determination that matched her usual focused demeanor, “ Why would I be mad? I’m just a focused Squid right now, “ Mira said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

Ochona nodded, but she felt her insides twist and her heart bleed slightly. But it wasn’t for this reason. It felt like something else.

Something felt wrong.

Something felt wrong.

Something felt wrong. 

Ochona nodded, but her sassy facade couldn't hide the knot in her stomach. It wasn't about Mira's teasing. Something else gnawed at her, something deeper, something she couldn't quite put her tentacle on. She knew what it was. She just didn’t know how to confront it.

"Something feels wrong," she murmured, more to herself than to Mira. The air in the room seemed to thicken, suffocating her with unspoken tension, why’d this always happen? She said dumb shit she couldn’t get herself out of.

 Mira glanced over, concern showing on her face. "What do you mean, Ochona? Is everything alright?" Her voice held a rare softness, a vulnerability that only Ochona seemed to evoke in her.

Ochona shrugged, a pained expression flickering across her face before she masked it with a forced grin. "I'm fine, just a little tired, that's all." She avoided Mira's gaze, fidgeting with the spoon. Mira reached out and gently took Ochona's hand in hers, the warmth of their connection palpable.

"You can tell me anything, you know that, right? We're family, Ochona. “

” I know I can. “ Mira let go of ochona’s hand, reaching out to hug Ochona gently. Ochona immediately initiated the hug as her arms clung to Mira. Crying wasn’t a option so don’t do it.

Her voice was barely audible. Mira swore she heard Ochona silently pleading for it to all be the same, to not be hurt. Begging her not to hurt her.  " You're safe here," Mira reassured her, her voice soft and soothing.

” Promise you don’t hate me. “ Ochona uttered,

” I promise I don’t. You wanna go out for a bit? Do some turf wars? Or chill and relax? “

It took Ochona a little while to respond, her voice muffled from the hug, “ Can we just watch a show together…? “

” Yeah sure, I’ll make us snacks. “ She lightly kissed Ochona on the forehead, ruffling the girls hair slightly. 

Chapter Text

Mira leaned on her bed, one leg lazily underneath the covers and one foot on the floor. Her eyes continuing to gaze over and over the Octo-shot in her hand. Such a simple bit of machinery impact's so much. It seemed almost pointless.

It can be used to splat a thousand foes of your choice.

You can use it to make a point, scream for a life you will not have.

It could also be used to save people; that was the least important though.

From the fine structure but with an overall aesthetic more closely resembling that of a firearm than a toy. The ink tank was large, cylindrical; To store more ink. ]It had a black screw cap which rests on top of the main parts of the gun with a thick, plastic, black band wrapped around it, connecting the ink tank to the gun. It seemed to had been scratched or dented in some way. Below the barrel is a large rubbery grip so you wouldn't lose hold, also placing a small trigger that is held within one hand.

 Connecting on the remaining side of the barrel is a foregrip, held with the other hand to stabilize the weapon when firing. Connecting to the forward-facing side of the foregrip is a funnel-shaped silver nozzle. The ink inside is a darkish blue; the light effecting the colour to her eyes.

It felt a lot more dangerous then a normal Splattershot. It could also be due to the fact she's splatted so, so many foe's with it. Turf war's felt a bit...odd.

You fight against opponents for fun, using recreational weapons of war, covering and taking turf as your own, mercilessly slaughtering the enemies all for fun. Despite trying to unlearn all the propaganda in her life she'd never unlearn what a proper Turf War to her was,

It was still a battle.

It was still a fight.

And it was still certainly a war.

Mira's mind wandered farther then her thoughts could follow, pondering about how certain weapons, and the behind scenes of how they worked; she wondered if they could stretch further. Bending the limits to weapons to create stronger variants of themselves.

What if a new generation of Squids and Octo's could hold and weld these new weapons?

A generation more calm...more good spirited and team like?

Impossible, an Octo can dream. She'd better go sign up for her Splatfest team. Final Fest: Splatocalypse, Chaos versus Order. She had already made up which team she would be on, Order.

Her best friend almost always had conflicting teams to her, she was going Chaos.

' Having a world of just Order seems like The Domes all again...no one should get to feel that trapped under rules and Order! Break 'em! '

The words replayed in her mind. The Domes, trapped, Order. 

Of course she agreed, rules are for nothing if there isn't someone to counterbalance them. No one should get to be trapped but...Order was needed for society, or you'd just get a bunch of mini Ochona's running around; AKA, not good. Crazy squids.

Miles hadn't picked his own team yet. Her heart thumped at the partner sleeping next to her in bed, everything up to this point had changed everything. Escaping, living, escaping once again, battling, and now this. The Final-fest. Usually these sorta fest's were held changed everything right? So he had better pick a good team, a winning team, and that team was gonna be Order. She'd make sure of it.

Mira gently laid the Octo-shot on it's side, leaning it against the bedside table and turned to get back into bed, her eyes falling onto the sleeping Octoling that had decided to latch onto her side, how did she not notice a whole damn cephalopod holding onto her? Her hand tingled and she held onto his. His hand squeezed her own, the slight bit of comfort reassuring her. She brushed a loose tentacle out his eye, reshowing that bad scar.

What even was it?

Was it a parasitic sludge that had some sorta mind of it's own and chose to clung onto her friends?

Was it simply mind control? Who'd be controlling them?

Or was it an ooze that heightened the not so pleasant variables of people? That seemed pretty pointless though.

Mira's eyebrows lowered and her gaze softened, at least it was off them. Them both. Not without side effect