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Eight let out a tired sigh as she made her way into Cuttlefish Cabin. The overworked octoling threw her gear onto the couch as she crashed into its cozy embrace. 

The sound of the fridge opening and the tell tale click and hiss of a soda can was the only warning Eight got as Marie handed her a cold drink. “Hard day.”

Eight gave her senior agent a worn out smile as she gladly downed half the soda. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, patrols this time of year suck,” Marie said.

“Yeah, I didn’t think it would be this bad,” Eight said.

“Thanks for doing this, Three needed to focus on graduating high school,” Marie said.

Eight laughed remembering how hard her girlfriend was studying right now. It was strange how cute Three could be when she was just buckling down to study. “It’s no problem, you’ll probably be short staffed when Four and I are taking our final exams.”

Marie barked out a hearty laugh. “Good one Eight, Four is the top of her class and is already locked into uni and med school. I don’t need to worry about her missing patrols,” Marie said rather haughtily about her daughter.

Eight smiled. “That’s fair I guess you won’t have to worry about Four missing patrols, I’m not sure about me though, Marina will probably want me to at least get an eighty-five average.”

“Yeah, speaking of scheduling, how are things going to be for final fest? Four’s already hyped for seventy-two hours of splatting and I’m sure Three will be doing it once she’s freed from studying.”

The young agent winced at the reminder of the upcoming war. The final fest seemed like such a benign event at first, just pick a side and have fun. The worst would happen is one of her moms would sulk about her choosing one of them over the other. But this was different. Final fests weren’t like the others. Inkfish made resolutions, promises to change as one era ended and a new one began.

Her moms were using this splatfest to decide how to take their careers. If chaos won Pearl was going to have them branch out and try new genres if order won they would stick to what worked. 

Stability or change.

Either way it wasn’t a fight Eight wanted to take part in.

Eight heard a sigh before she was dragged into a hug from Marie. “This isn’t a game for you, huh?” The younger agent looked up to her senior. “Your moms are going to change and you’re caught in the middle.”

“Yeah,” Eight said, leaning into Marie. “My moms want to make a huge change and  don’t want to be anywhere near them.”

Marie rubbed Eight’s shoulder. “I know how you feel. When the producers introduced Callie vs Marie I was excited, but as time went on I was so worried about what if Callie was the popular one. What if I was just holding her back? This stupid game became real and I was the only person to feel like that. This splatfeast isn’t a game for you, it’s your life, but you’ve got nobody who would understand.”

“What should I do?” Eight asked. “I feel like if I choose one I’m telling my other mom I love them more than her, but if I don’t choose I’m basically choosing to bury my head in the sand and pretend I don’t have an opinion."

“How about we rig the results?” Marie said. 

Eight looked up at her senior, more confused than curious. “What are you talking about? You’re not going to fake the results of final fest?”

Marie smiled the same smug grin Four had when a brilliant idea. “No, don’t be ridiculous, that would ruin the fun for everyone. What I’m suggesting is that we have a meeting at the cabin where for team building we all be on the same splatfest team. We’ll hold some sort of draw where the winning ballot, yours, will be the one we choose.”

Eight felt the weight of weeks of stress roll off her shoulders. Finally she had the solution to her problems. The younger agent smiled as she hugged Marie as hard as she could. “Thank you thank you thank you Marie, you’re the best.”

“Was there ever any doubt?” Marie asked.

The younger agent pulled away from her superior. “That still leaves what to choose, chaos or order. What side should I choose?”

Marie shrugged, “That’s on you to decide.”

Eight nodded thinking about the choices. Chaos vs order. Whichever side she chose she’d have to make some sort of resolution. 

If she chose order she could do an apprenticeship at her job at Ammo Knights. She’d be doubling down on what works and building on it.

Eight had fought her way from the domes to the Metro and even returned to the Metro to save others. Maybe a little stability was needed after all this fighting? Didn’t she deserve that?

If chaos won she could chaos she’d...

Break up with Three and Four?

Get a house pet?

Go on a world tour trying out foods from all across the world?

Eight’s shoulders slumped. She wanted to give both sides a try, but the truth was her life wasn’t chaotic and she liked it like that. What was so wrong with staying the same?

The younger agent opened her mouth to speak when she looked over at Marie. Her senior had been hesitant about change. She was the most opposed to how the Splatoon was changing, but she gave it a chance. Marie had changed from a skeptic of integration to an advocate. Chaos was change, but it was also about growth. 

Over the last two years the most hated and feared group in the domes had changed from a symbol of fear to one of hope. The inkfish of Inkopolis were willing to embrace change and become different. Why shouldn’t she be willing to change like her home? 

“Judging by that smile I assume you’ve picked a side,” Marie said.

Eight nodded, “Yeah, I’ve got one.”