Redemption: A Splat Force Story; Chapter 1

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W E L C O M E ! ! !

This is Nomad! Today is the premier of the newest installment in the Splat Force saga: Redemption: A Splat Force Story!

Now, from the way that this story has been d, you're probably wondering what the hell this story is. Well, this is most likely the most violent story on this Amino, so of course, expect every single Chapter to have a cover warning.

Now, within the advertising, I specifically told you all to not get attached to anyone. You might be wondering why? Well...You know what, I'll keep quiet, you'll find out why I said that by the time this Chapter ends.

So without further ado, it's time to start a brand new story! Let's get into this!

:warning: WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER CONTAINS STRONG, NO, HYPER-VIOLENCE AND GORE, ALONGSIDE SOME INSANELY DISTURBING IMAGERY. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION! :warning:

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(Chapter Hub)

C H A P T E R  1 :  P E O P L E  W H O  D I E D

"The Royal Army of Inkopolis City's General, William Swannack, has issued a statement saying that the city will remain in lockdown until the Great Zapfish is restored to its rightful place and when Bolton Vulcan is taken down for good. For more updates, do check out our website for more information, but right now, we will all have a moment of silence for those we have lost on the-"

An Octoling with a long, fringed sand-colored hair switched off the TV in the living room of his old house. The only sound that was heard was a faint plane soaring in the sky.

The Octoling wiped some dust off of his Squid Satin Jacket. He felt the strong urge to clean himself after the battle at Inkopolis. Even his red bandana and dark brown beanie were dirty.

T H U D ! ! !

All of a sudden, the silence was interrupted by a loud stomp coming from outside followed by small footsteps. The front door opened. A young Inkling woman with deep purple, plated hair, and dark, purple-striped clothing charged in, seeing Led in the living room.

"I knew you'd be here, Led."

She said. The young Octoling man turned to her, showing no emotion.

"Led, we need your help."

"You found him, haven't you?"

Led Levin asked, getting a nod in response.

"So? You go fight him, you don't need me, Mel."

"That's not true! We need you more than anyone!"

Melissa Sabrina exclaimed. Led looked away from her, pointing his head down. She slowly approached him, reaching out with her left arm.

"I-I know you're scared, and don't pull any bullsquit on me, Led, I can sense your emotions! I know how you're feeling, but the more we stand in here and sulk, the more lives will be taken because of our absence. Don't you think that Bolton has killed enough? Don't you want to finally take him down? Or do you want to stay here and live with yourself after more innocent lives are taken? The choice is yours but I recommend the former."

With a soft touch from her hand, Melissa lifted Led's head. He looked into her shining eyes. Melissa lowered her hand away from his head and held his hand.

"Please Led! I've never begged for anything else in my entire life. We can finally be free of him, and live our lives in peace. Wouldn't you like that? Wouldn't they like that?"

She asked. What followed was a dragged-out moment of silence as both she and Led thought about everything that Bolton had done. She was right, they could end it so that nobody would suffer as much as they did, never again.

"Okay...Where's the fight?"

He asked.

Melissa smiled in relief.

"Bruce is outside, he'll take us there."

She replied before the two of them headed out of the house.

Standing on the road outside was Bruce, a large Hammerhead Shark. Led and Melissa charged out of the house and jumped onto his back, both sitting on either side of his back fin.

"Let's go, Bruce!"

Led exclaimed. The Shark grunted before running forward, jumping twice before leaping into the air on the third jump.

1 5  M I N U T E S  L A T E R . . .

With every leap from the trio grew closer and closer to where the battle was at. It wasn't long until they ed the border zone between Inkopolis and the Splatlands. After a long journey, they reached a formerly abandoned Power Plant deep within the dry, outer wastelands. As the trio landed on the surface they were greeted with burnt, limbless bodies from the exploded Rainmaker Tanks. In the sea of blood and organs laid severed arms, legs, feet, hands, fingers, toes, and even severed heads. The sight and smell of the bodies overwhelmed Melissa, causing her to instantly throw up.

Led and Bruce walked past the bodies and looked into the Power Plant. The large, open square building before them was where the fight was. Inside, he saw Bolton fighting against both the Splat Force and the Royal Army of Inkopolis City, alongside two Squidbeak Splatoon Agents, both of whom had already perished.

Bolton was in a choke-hold from Alyssa Frida as he managed to block Rex Allen's shots, using his fire gifts to incinerate his gunfire. Out of ammo, Rex backed away. Needing the break free from Alyssa's choke hold, he unsteadily managed to rise, battling against Alyssa's force as his face started to go a light purple. He slowly lifted his blade and navigated it to Alyssa's left hip.

S L A M ! ! !

Alyssa cried out in pain. The feeling of the sharp, burn in her hip caused her to go into shock. Once Bolton pulled his blade back out seconds later, she let go of him to hold onto her damaged hip. Blood was spitting out of her like a water fountain. She hoped that holding onto it would stop the bleeding.

S L A M ! ! !

Bolton ran up to her and punched her in the chest, knocking her back into the wall, temporarily taking her out of the fight as she tried to stop the excessive bleeding.

Back outside, Led turned to the other two, looking determined.

"We need to sneak in. Have you two got any ideas?"

Melissa stroked her right elbow gently, trying to ease herself. Bruce looked at the building and pointed his left fin to the top of it.

"We use roof?"

He asked as the team looked to where he was pointing. Without saying another word, Led jumped onto his back, followed by Melissa.

Bruce leaped onto the roof, trying not to put too much pressure on the ground to not fall through on accident. Melissa went onto her hands and knees and closed her eyes, slowly crawling to find the best spot to jump through, eventually making her mind up near the middle.

"Bruce, cut here!"

She told him.

Slowly, Bruce dug his fins into the roof and cut a large square out of it. As the hole was opened, Bruce held onto the square piece and lifted it, placing it to the left of the hole. The three of them crouched around the hole and looked down.

S L I C E ! ! !

Using his blade, Bolton disarmed the R.A.I.C General by slicing off his right arm. The General fell back and held onto his right arm, screaming in pain as blood poured out.

"I'm going in! I'll try and stun him, then you two come after me!"

She said before looking back down. Bolton stood over him and prepared to finish him off. He raised his blade in the air and struck...

The General shut his eyes, accepting his fate. However, the attack never came. He opened his eyes and saw Bolton standing still, unable to move. Melissa made her move, jumped through the hole, and descended slowly.

"Y-You betrayed me, young one!"

Bolton grunted.

Not saying a word back, Melissa screamed as she pushed him to the podium. Along the way, he dropped his blade. Using her mind, she began to replay Bolton's worst memories in his head on repeat with him unable to do anything about it. He had to rewatch the deaths of his wife, his son, the killing of his father, his bullies, and all the abuse he faced in his life, all of it. As time went on, the faces of his loved ones grew demonic as they slowly withered away, growing skinner and paler until they were left skinless

Z A P ! ! !

Led jumped from the roof onto the ground whilst zapping him with lightning. That and the mind torture caused Bolton to scream unlike he ever did before. To him, it was a fate far worse than death.

From across the battlefield, an Octoling girl saw Led continuously zap Bolton with lightning. Wanting to in, she super jumped forward and landed on Bolton's right before unleashing a flamethrower of her own.

W H O O S H ! ! !

Bolton's screaming grew louder and more painful and tears fell from his eyes. Barely managing to keep up thanks to her damaged, bloodied hip, Alyssa ed in and blasted Bolton with an energy beam to his left.

This was pain that Bolton had never felt before. The combined strength of lightning, fire, and energy weakened him, and the torture of reliving demonic, gory versions of his worst memories was too much, even for him.

Another hole was cut in the roof, this time it came from behind Bolton and on top of the podium. Once cut open, Bruce jumped from the roof and landed on the ground, causing a very mild earthquake.

Bolton knew that he had to think of a counter quickly otherwise he'd be gobbled up. It was Melissa, she was keeping him in place to experience all the pain. Through the memories, he began to focus hard, thinking about Melissa. As Bruce grew nearer, Bolton's thoughts became clearer as he finally gained focus on Melissa. Now, she had her worst memories playing in her hand. She screamed as she held her head, losing focus on Bolton, setting him free.

Right as Bruce was about to chomp down on him, Bolton charged up all the power that he had in him and crossed his arms. He breathed heavily as he continued to fight through the combined power of Led, Alyssa, and the Octoling girl. Just as Bruce was mere centimeters away from chowing down, Bolton unleashed his power...

B O O M ! ! !

The blast hit everyone in the Power Plant. Bruce was knocked back to the back wall, his consciousness slowly fading. The whole battlefield went foggy as it was filled with smoke. Led wouldn't go down so easily. Despite being knocked to the front entrance, he quickly got back onto his feet, brushing soot off his jacket. He marched forward into the fog, his body starting to recharge with lightning.

At the back, in front of the podium, Bolton was on his hands and knees, coughing up blood, breathing weakly. The blast had taken a toll on him, and the scars on his face contained to spread, now reaching his forehead. In addition, his right eye had now gone white. He had also gone deaf in his right ear.

Approaching him with his whole body buzzing with electricity, Led looked down at his former master, preparing himself for the killing blow.

"Look who's kneeling to who now, you son of a bitch!"

He mocked. Behind Led's mask was a sinister grin that even Bolton could see once he looked up at him weakly. Bolton tried to speak back but he burst into a small coughing fit.

"To think I was once afraid of you..."

S L A M ! ! !

As Led gloated, Bolton came close to his senses, enough for him to launch himself at Led, punching him in the stomach with the strongest punch that he had ever thrown. Using his left hand, he held Led down by holding onto his shoulder so he wouldn't be sent flying.

Led was barely able to stand straight. He too now coughed up blood, staining his mask. Unfortunately for him, Bolton wasn't going to stop at just a strong punch.

S L A M ! ! !

Bolton uppercut Led's nose, staining his knuckles with his blood. Led's vision was getting blurry and he was losing balance over his body. Bolton latched himself onto Led's collar and dragged him towards him.

S L A M ,  S L A M ,  S L A M ! ! !

S L A M ,  S L A M ,  S L A M ! ! !

Bolton slammed his fist into Led's face over, and over again, each time with the same power as the last. He wouldn't stop. Led's face was covered in blood stains and marks. By the time the fifth punch had landed, he was already out cold.

Finally, the punching had finally ended. He look at the beaten, bloodied body and snarled before chucking him to his right. Led's head slammed against the wall before he fell to the ground. Everything went black...

8  M O N T H S  L A T E R . . .

B E E P . . . B E E P . . .  B E E P . . .

Every two seconds, Led's heart would beat, causing a beeping noise to come from the monitor. His whole body rested under a thick, white bedsheet, and wore only a light blue dressing gown. His eyes were closed and he had a breathing mask on.

Four Inkling doctors were in the room, three standing by the entrance, one tall man and two small women. A woman sat just opposite Led's bed, all of whom wore the same blue shirt and white lab coat.

"You're suggesting that this...Music is soothing for our patient?"

The man asked, unsure of what to think about the soul rock music quietly playing in the room.

"Recently, Mr Levin's body has become reactive, albeit only when being touched, resulting in him twitching. His heartbeats have been increasing as well. The music helps ease the heart."

She responded, standing up and poking him in his right arm to show it off to her peers.

"I don't know, Cassie, I don't think he likes that."

The woman with bangs said, twirling a strand of her yellow hair in mild stress.

"I wouldn't worry too much, Lyla. If in the event he wakes up and is hostile, which is very unlikely to happen, then I'll have to tranq him and he'll be asleep. I'll make sure you, Rachel, and Ross are out of harm's way."

She replied. However, upon saying that Led's heart began to beat faster, all Doctors began to crowd the Octoling. Cassie carefully took off her black glasses and hid them in her chest pocket.

"Uh, Cass? I think he might've heard you..."

Rachel whispered as his heartbeat got faster.

Led's heartbeat kept beating faster and faster, managing to reach five beats per second before reaching ten. Lyla noticed his right arm continuously twitching, followed by very light grunts. She gasped.

"Guys! Something is happening and I'm not too sure if it's a good thing..."

She said as the team came to Led's side, with Lyla, Rachel, and Ross to his right and Cassie to his left.

"Could it be?"

Ross asked only to get no answer.

"Should I-"

Lyla asked before pausing mid-sentence as she gradually reached her pointed index finger forward until it finally made with his arm.

All of a sudden, Led opened his eyes and jumped forward out of the bed whilst screaming. Everyone screamed, each going back against the wall. Whilst cornered, Cassie began to search the drawers for a syringe.

Down on the ground, Led began coughing up a storm as he removed his breathing mask. His vision was blurry. After ten seconds, he stood up and looked at the three quivering doctors that stood by the front door. His blue dressing gown now dragged down. There was a large gap at the back, accidentally revealing his backside.

"CASSIE?! WHAT DO WE DO?! ARE COMA PATIENTS SUPPOSED TO JUMP OUT OF THEIR BEDS?!"

Rachel panicked. Though she lacked experience, even she knew that what Led did was out of the ordinary.

"Coma patient?!"

Led yelled out, confused.

"What are you talking about?!"

Ross took a brave step forward and moved in front of the ladies, he pulled a fake syringe from his pocket.

"SIR! Please calm down! I don't want to hurt you!"

"Get out of my way!"

Led demanded, feeling threatened, though the doctor stood his place. He slowly raised his hands in the air, ready to blast him with lightning.

"I said, get out of my way!"

With all his might, Led pushed his hands forward and...BAM! Except, there was nothing, lightning, no power, not even a faint little sparkle. Led looked at his hands, confused. He tried to strike again...Nothing.

"What the fu-"

Before he could finish the sentence, Cassie snuck up from behind and jabbed him in the side of his neck of the syringe, putting him to sleep. She carefully lowered his body to the ground before looking back up at her peers.

"Cassie, what the fuck just happened?!"

Cassie didn't focus on the question from Lyla, instead, she looked at Ross, angered by his attitude.

"Are you fucking serious, Ross?! Why did you threaten an awakened patient?!"

"I wasn't going to-"

He tried to justify his actions, only to get cut off.

"If you're not gonna take this job seriously then please get out of this building! You're fired!"

She yelled. Feeling disappointed, Ross stormed out of the room, leaving the ladies alone. Cassie nodded at Rachel.

"Call the R.A.I.C, Rach and tell them that he's awake."

2  H O U R S  L A T E R . . .

After a long journey out of Inkopolis in an ambulance, with Led lying mostly unconscious in the back, accompanied by Jellyfish in navy clothes. They arrived at Stonefish Heights, a supermax prison for the Gifted located south of the Inkadia.

By the time they arrived, Led was already awake. The backdoor of the van swung open and Led was escorted out of the vehicle. There was an enormous, backward L-Shaped, steal-grey building. Around the building were large metal walls, containing outdoor areas, both on the bottom and top floors. Some had mini gym set-ups, others had shallow pools with lifeguards on stand-by, and others were lunch break areas filled with benches and food stands.

After the steal gate opened, they walked through, with Led walking in the middle of them. Together, they all entered the building. As two Jellyfishes went to the front counter to check him in, the remaining of them took Led further into the building, down two separate corridors, both with the same white walls and black, concrete-like floor, and finally, they went into an elevator.

After ten seconds, they arrived at the prison floor. The door opened up into a small square room with a sealed entrance ahead. One Jellyfish swiped a card, allowing them access to the room. They entered a massive, two-floored room. On the bottom floor in the center were two rows of four benches, all made of steel. Along the walls, up until opposite the entrance room were cells. To the left next to the front door were fabricated metal stairs leading to the second floor. The platform went all along the walls. The left, back middle, and right side walls were all cells. The whole room had a green tint. The left walls had sunlight crashing through the iron bars.

Led was taken up the stairs and to the middle cell of the left side. He was then handed an orange shirt and tros by one of the jellyfish before they left him. In the cell were two bunk beds, each against the wall between a curtain leading outside. Led sat on the bottom bed on the left bunk bed, looking down at the clothes and sighing. How on earth did his life come to this? Fortunately, he wasn't alone. He heard rustling coming from his left. Led turned to see an Inkling climbing down from the top bed on the other bunk bed.

"Led? Is that you?"

She called out.

Led's eyes widened as his heart started to race as she climbed down the slim stairs.

"Mel?!"

Led stood up as Melissa jumped at him, hugging him as tightly as she could. Led wrapped his arms around her in an instant. She was okay, that was all that mattered to him.

"I can't believe you're finally here!"

Melissa said with a mildly whimpering voice. As she pulled out of the hug, Led was put even more at ease upon seeing her wondrous smile and her sparkling eyes.

"How are you?"

Led let go of her and looked around, the reality of the situation hitting him. What was originally a loving moment between the two turned into one of confusion as he looked back into her eyes and properly had a look. Her pupils were...Normal? There were black instead of the usual white that the Gifted had. He then thought back to earlier at the hospital when his gifts didn't work.

"Mel, can I ask you something?"

Led asked. Melissa hummed in response.

"What happened? My gifts aren't working, I tried to use them when I woke up but nothing happened."

Melissa quickly picked up on what Led spoke about. She tilted her head upwards.

"Okay...What was the last thing you ?"

Led closed his eyes and tilted his head downwards, trying to think. It didn't take long until he found some memories.

"Last thing I is me you and Bruce standing over bodies. We were about to face off against Bolton, a-and..."

He answered until suddenly, Bolton raced into his mind.

"Bolton...I'm no use against him! I have to get my gifts working again fast!"

"Calm down, Led, the battle is over!"

She assured him.

Led looked at her with his mouth dropping.

"The battle is- What?!"

"It's over. Bolton died eight months ago. We're finally free from him!"

Melissa said softly, causing Led to tear up.

Overwhelmed with emotion, his body shivering, Led sat back down on his bed and covered his mouth with both hands. A tear escaped his eyes as he let out a light laugh. However, as the news of his demise settled in, more questions began to pop into his mind.

"What happened?"

"After you were taken out, he got distracted with one of the Splat Force , I think it was that Octoling kid we saved. Anyways, Rex Allen got him in the back with his own blade, that finished him off."

She explained.

Though Led was delighted that he was gone, there was a part of him that felt weird...Jealously?

"I wish it was me. I wanted to kill him so badly..."

He whispered, causing Melissa to frown. The worst part was that he could've. He was right there, but his thirst for Bolton's suffering got the better of him. To take his mind off of him, he decided to move on to the other important matter.

"What about the-"

B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

One jellyfish guard smacked one of their tentacles against the cell door, alerting the pair of them.

"Led Levin! General Swannack wishes to speak to you."

The cell door opened and Led was quickly dressed into his prison outfit, with his blue dressing gown being taken away. He tried to cover up the massive, purple lightning scar on his mouth with the top of his shirt, but it was no use. He was taken out of the cell, down the stairs, and to the back door opposite the entrance. Whilst walking, prisoners began to scream at him.

Led was taken down a cramped, steal-plated hallway that led into another cell block, the same size and almost the same layout, the only difference being the doors were now on the left and right walls on the bottom floor, with the left leading outside.

Led was taken to the right door and entered a small room, similar to the one he entered his cell block through. The Jellyfish scanned his card at the door opposite. It opened to an open hallway with Inkling soldiers in camouflage clothing walking by, straight ahead leading into what looked like a training ground. Led took a right turn and he was taken to another door, though this time it was a wooden one.

K N O C K , K N O C K ! ! !

"Come in!"

An old man called out from the other side.

Inside was a small square room with pinned photos and sticky notes on a wooden board at the back wall. Among the photos was one of a Shark similar to Bruce, but lacking specific features and the scar on the right eye.

The right wall had a window, outside it was a massive metal wall. One would question what the point of the window was. Taking up all the space was a desk filled with papers. Sat on the seat of the desk was General Swannack.

Since the final showdown, the good General had taken a back seat after losing his right arm. But, he still helped out whenever he could. His hair had gone flat, with his sides shaved, top gelled back, and back growing to his neck.

"Mr Levin, glad that you could me. Please, have a seat!"

He said as he pointed to the open chair with his left hand. Once sat down, he then looked at the Jellyfish.

"You can go, Jimmy."

Now, it was just Led and the General.

"How've you been, Mr Levin?"

Led took a deep breath as he began to recite his confusing day.

"I've been feeling weird all day, I woke up, my gifts didn't work and I was at a hospital. The doctors said I was a coma patient-"

"You were out for eight months."

He informed him. Fortunately, Led had found out beforehand.

"Mel already filled me in on it. Bolton's dead."

He replied.

General Swannack nodded before continuing the conversation.

"That is correct. Mr Allen dealt the final blow using his own-"

"Blade? Yeah, Mel filled me in on that too."

He interrupted, not wanting stuff repeated.

"She filled me in on practically everything, well almost everything."

"Oh...Okay."

He said slowly and awkwardly. He was glad that the easy part was just out the way.

"Then I suppose you have a few questions."

And right he was. Led had so many questions, but he quickly managed to find an easy way to ask them all at once.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"There it is!"

The General muttered under his breath whilst rolling his eyes.

"Like, seriously! I wake up and my gifts have stopped working. Did you inject me with the cure?!"

He asked, feeling as if his boundaries had been breached.

There was an awkward silence as the General struggled to find a suitable answer.

"Well...Kind of. It wasn't just you."

"What?!"

A now baffled Led asked.

"Just after Bolton had been taken down, Mrs Frida gave up her own life to cure the whole world. A noble act that I bestowed upon her. Mr Allen hasn't spoken to me since, he hates my guts..."

He said sorrowfully.

Unfortunately, Led didn't take this news lightly. He was baffled and pissed off, unimaginably pissed off.

"WHAT THE FUCK?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! NOW WE'RE ALL GONNA BE HOPELESS!"

"Vincent Fisk has made you all gifts, well technology-based gifts. They are for when you go out into the battlefield so you aren't hopeless on your own."

He explained.

"On the battlefield?"

He asked to which the General nodded.

"Bold of you to assume I'll be on a battlefield anytime soon after all the squit I've done."

"We're going to need you."

He said.

"Okay, what?"

Led asked. He wondered what he was needed for, and why him specifically.

"I'm gonna keep this as brief as possible but there is a war arising, between the Acid Squids and the Shark Kingdom. We predict that if played out, the war could lead to catastrophic results. Whilst our men are busy trying to take care of conflicts elsewhere, Mr Fisk and I have been putting together a team of former gifted individuals, and we want you to be a part of it."

He offered.

"We'll be taking care of your friend after you are sorted. The Shark will be staying though. "

"Wait, is Bruce here?"

Led asked, confused as to how they would contain a beast like him.

"He is in his own cell outside. We've given you and Miss Sabrina an open doorway out if you want to visit him."

He answered before getting back on track.

"So, do we have a deal?"

"Are the Splat Force unable to do it?"

Led asked. Yet again, he had some more catching up to do.

"Mrs Frida is gone and Mr Allen and I aren't on speaking . That veteran fighter was killed during the fight and one of the Rookies turned to stone, causing her sister to go awall. That just leaves the Octoling boy and that...Potty-mouthed Inkling girl..."

He said was a frustrated sigh.

"The boy is taking some time off to heal, he was wounded badly, though he is recovering, thankfully."

"Okay...? And what about the girl?"

Led asked. The sheer mention of the girl caused the General's mouth to lower as his face cringed up from ing their last encounter...

1  D A Y  A G O . . .

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKIN" MIND?! I SPENT OVER A FUCKIN' YEAR UNDERGROUND IN THE LINE OF DUTY DURING A FUCKIN' WAR! AND NOW, YOU'RE ME TO FIGHT IN ANOTHER ONE! ONE THAT IS UNDER THE FUCKIN' WATER?!"

Emily screamed at the General.

General Swannack was left silent, eyes widened, completely stunned.

"Miss Rogue, if you allow me to-"

"NO! I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S A NO FROM ME! GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO FUCKIN' DO IT!"

She screamed once again before storming out of the room, leaving the General stunned.

P R E S E N T  D A Y . . .

After a long moment of silence, the General finally responded.

"She said no."

"Great..."

Led uttered as he face palmed.

"Look, I'm done with all the fighting. I have no reason to fight anymore. I've killed thousands, even my parents were killed by me...Please, just let me live in peace. Just let me spend as much time in this place as I have to."

Understanding his answer, The General slowly nodded.

"Okay, I'll let you off, for now. However, if something happens to the team then I can't guarantee that you won't be brought into it."

He told him.

"You may return to your cell now."

Led was taken back to his cell by the Jellyfish. As he inspected, other prisoners began to scream at him as he walked by their cells. Outside, he seemed unfazed by it all, he was used to shouting crowds, though on the inside, he questioned whether or not he would make it out of prison alive.

At last, he was taken back to the cell.

"What was that about?"

Melissa asked.

"Apparently there is some war happening and they want me to fight in it."

He answered, being as straightforward as possible.

"I said no."

"Oh..."

She whispered as she and Led sat down on the med next to each other. She could see that he needed company.

"I don't wanna be someone's weapon anymore, I already killed thousands by being that. I don't anymore."

He uttered. Melissa wrapped her right arm around his back and leaned her head on him.

"Off-topic, but is Bruce here?"

Melissa stood up and walked to the curtain at the back of the cell and opened it to reveal a mini garden. At the top left was a mini cage to contain the Shark. The top right was a small pong. The rest of the garden was grass. Bruce looked at Led and his face lit up.

"Led?"

He asked to which his friend nodded.

"Led!"

Bruce stomped his way to his Octoling comrade, picked him and hugged him whilst spinning around a circle, causing Led to feel light-headed. Eventually, he was put down.

"G-Good to see you too, Bruce..."

He said as he tried to refocus. Everything was spinning to him.

R I N G , R I N G ! ! !

Bruce's bell rang, alerting him to the cage.

"Snack time!"

He said whilst licking his chops as he ran to the cage. Melissa pulled Led back into the cell as the pair looked at what Bruce was eating, no, who Bruce was eating.

A prisoner on death row walked the plank, shivering and crying as he looked down into the open jaw of the Shark. He refused to go down. A Jellyfish official smacked him with his tentacles, knocking him down into Bruce's jaw. Bruce chomped him until he was nothing but crumbs. His blood and his organs and brains only added flavor to him. He swallowed what was in his mouth and licked his lips, sucking any blood on them.

Back at the cell, Led's mouth dropped, Melissa frowned upon seeing his reaction.

"He's become an execution method. He doesn't seem to mind, he sees it as free food. But still..."

"Yeah, that's fucked up..."

Led replied as the pair of them closed the curtain and were about to go back to talking when all of a sudden.

B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

Melissa Sabrina! General Swannack wishes to speak to you!"

The same Jellyfish told her.

Panicked, Led looked at Melissa and shook his head.

"Don't worry, I won't be long!"

She assured him before getting escorted out of the cell, leaving Led behind.

Led walked back out to the garden and leaned against the door. Bruce came over to him.

"So, you're liking it here?"

"I like here! I get food!"

Bruce answered. Led nodded as he leaned his head back on the wall, sighing.

"I have blood on fin!"

"Yes, Bruce. Yes you do..."

He replied miserably as Bruce began to lick his fin.

M E A N W H I L E  W I T H  M E L I S S A

Melissa was taken to General Swannack's room. She seemed surprised to see the old man.

"General, I didn't know you were here!"

The General lightly chuckled before getting down to business.

"Please take a seat. This shouldn't take too long."

He said. As Melissa sat down, the real meeting began.

"How've you been, Miss Sabrina?"

"I-I've been okay. No one ever goes for me, I suppose they don't even know I'm there most of the time. I'm feeling better now that Led is here."

She said.

The General tilted his head upwards, he wanted to expand upon their relationship.

"I heard you two had quite the bond. Is it just friendship? Or this there something else sparking between the pair of you?"

"I-I-"

She trembled. The question came out of nowhere and gave her whiplash. Her face started to go red.

"Too personal of a question? I apologize."

He said as he began to sort out papers on his desk.

"N-No, it's okay. It just came out of nowhere, that's all!"

She assured him.

"Understandable."

He said before moving on to the topic at hand.

"Okay, I'm just gonna cut to the chase. You, alongside the rest of you lot, are in this place because of a bad deed you've done. If given the chance, you'd want to do some good, am I correct?"

Melissa nodded. However, she was becoming nervous about where the conversation was going, especially after what Led had just told her.

"What if I told you that you can find redemption by helping us end a war?"

Melissa raised her left eyebrow.

"A war?"

"Yes. The Acid Squids and the Shark Kingdom are about to go to war with each other at the Coraldia. If things escalate badly, the Inkadia, no, the world will be at stake from collateral damage. Our men are too busy fighting elsewhere and the Splat Force are out of commission"

He explained before going into what was happening.

"Mr Fisk and I have been putting together a team of former gifted individuals. We need one more member. Mr Levin declined our offer, you are our next bet."

Melissa was left conflicted. On one hand, this could be a death trap and lead her to her demise. On the other hand, she still felt guilty about serving Bolton, she wanted him out of her mind for good.

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Thank you, Miss Sabrina. Please, follow me."

General Swannack as he stood up and walked out of the room, Melissa followed behind.

Upon reaching the end of the mini hallway, they both turned right. Using his only hand, the General held against a hand scanner, allowing him and Melissa entry. On the other side of the windowless door was a small waiting room with white benches and a door on the far left. At the front of it was a window, and on the other side was an enormous, white training room. Against the right walls were the newest set of training dummys.

"Before you go out there, there is something you might want."

He said, snapping his fingers to call over an Inkling troop holding a small briefcase. Melissa opened it up to see her old black costume with purple lines.

"Feel free to get changed in that room."

The General pointed to the door against the right wall next to the white door leading into the training room. Melissa rushed in and quickly got out of her prison clothes and into her old costume. Upon walking out, she went into the training room and to the top left corner. There was a desk with technology like gloves. She was handed them. She was curious to see that there were five more, one of them looked like a headpiece.

She was escorted to the training dummy.

"Raise your arm and point it at the dummy."

The General instructed. Melissa did just that.

"Now, open your hand, and with two of your fingers, press the grey button."

W H O O S H ! ! !

Shock waves dashed out of her wrist and hit the dummys, knocking them back. Melissa screamed in shock from the sudden waves but overcame the mild fear with ease. The dummy bounced back up.

" me your left glove, please."

He asked. Confused, Melissa handed him the glove. The General stood in front of a readied weapon and pointed his arm at it.

B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

W H O O S H ! ! !

Before any of the bullets had landed, the General had blasted them with the shock waves, taking them out. He turned to the stunned Melissa and gave her the glove back.

"I know these aren't your gifts, but you can't exactly replicate psychic gifts so shocks waves that stop bullets are good enough."

He explained.

"Before you go, please come with me."

General Swannack took her to the top right corner of the room and opened a door leading into a blue-tinted room with a seat in the middle.

"Please sit down for a moment."

He asked. Once Melissa was sat down, she was strapped onto the chair, unable to move. General Swannack grabbed a needle with a microchip attached to it. He held her down by the shoulder with his elbow, allowing him the quickly inject the back on her back, putting the chip inside of her head.

"W-What did you just put inside me?"

Melissa asked, feeling the chip go in.

"A detonator. If in the event you go rogue and switch sides or kill a teammate, I'll have to blow up your head. Knowing you, this shouldn't be a problem."

He explained. He quickly caught on to how horrified Melissa looked.

"Sorry for the uneasiness but this was our only solution so that the team doesn't run off. You'll see why in a moment."

The General took Melissa out of the training room and through the left door at the end of the waiting room. Upon walking through, they were greeted by an Inkling man with black, slit-back hair and a beard. He wore a camouflage, kevlar clothing. He approached the pair of them, offering Melissa a handshake.

"This is Sargent Gunn, he is in charge of your team."

He said as the pair of them shook hands.

"It's an honor to be fighting alongside you, Mind-Reader."

Sargent Gunn replied, confusing Melissa as the pair of them walked down the corridor. The Sargent waved his General goodbye as he turned a right corner.

"Wait, Mind-Reader?"

Melissa asked, confused about what she was called.

"We all have code names to use on the battlefield. Mine is Sargent Gunn or Sargent to you, yours is Mind-Reader. I'll discuss the others when we get there."

He said as the two of them walked through an open door leading outside.

3 0  M I N U T E S  L A T E R . . .

The pair now sat at the back of a black truck, the only lights being bright red ones.

"Can I just ask why the R.A.I.C can't do it themselves? Why are they getting criminals to do it."

"After Bolton died, there was an insurgance happening at every corner of the world. Everyone is now trying to be the next Bolton, but we can only be in so many places at once. So Vincent Fisk came up with the idea to use former gifted criminals to fight back, hence why you're here."

He explained.

"I'm sorry, who is Vincent Fisk?"

Melissa asked.

Sargent Gunn let out a light chuckle and scratched the back of his head.

"He's the smartest man alive, I'm not bluffing. He was the one who invented the gifted cure. He's also one of the best men I know, and also one of my closest friends."

"Oh..."

She whispered. Two thoughts raced through her mind: was he really nice? If so, why was he sending criminals out to do the work? She decided to keep the questions to herself and instead asked a more relevant one.

"Who am I working with?"

Seconds after she said that, the truck stopped moving.

"You're about to find out!"

Sargent Gunn replied as he stood up and opened the back door. Both he and Melissa jumped out.

They were in an open, stone flatland. Very far back was a large Jet, similar to that of Rex Allen's. Spread across the flatland was the entirety of her team.

From left to right was a dark-skinned Octoling with long blue hair who wore a red suit with gold stripes. He held a Boomerang in his hand. Next to him was an Inkling with a brown man bun who wore a purple suit with grey overalls. She had long, claw-like nails attached to her fingers.

Next up was an Octoling with side-and-back-shaved Yellow hair who wore a black visor over his eyes and wore a grey suit with a large zip pocket on his chest. Next was an old Inkling man with long hair and stubble. He wore goggles and a red suit. Both hands had gloves on. Then there was an enormous Inkling with a blue goatee and slit-back hair. He had hulk-like muscles and wore nothing but tight black underwear.

Next in line was an Inkling girl with two dark purple pigtails and multiple colored eyes, her right being blue and her left being black. She wore a gas mask and a black and pink suit. She had bracelets on both arms and both legs. Next to her was another Inkling, this time was shoulder-length blonde hair, who wore a yellow and blue suit. She had scrap pieces in her utility belt.

The last of the group was the most mysterious of them all. An Inkling with red goggles, a brown cowboy hat, and a red mask. He wore a dark grey suit with an N-Zap attached to his waist and small Splat Bombs on the side of his brown boots. Some wondered who he was, others wondered why he was even there to begin with.

Sargent Gunn began to tell Melissa to names of each of them.

"This is your team. We have Charlie Hudson, Boomerang-Man. Libby Belvin, Claw-Girl. Tommy Nash, Laserbeam. Erik McKellen, Magnet. Steve Scott, Muscle-Man. Amelia Augusta, Sparkler. Nonnie Smith, Weapon Forger. And Digger Mester, the Red Nightmare."

The team walked onto the Jet and took their seats. Charlie, Libby, Amelia, and Melissa on one side, and Tommy, Nonnie, Erik, Digger, and Steve on the other. Sargent Gunn remained stood up.

"You may take off."

He informed the pilot. Not long after, the back door was shut and the Jet took off into the skies.

Like the truck, everything was dark with red nights illuminating. The front window had a dark tint on it, not allowing much sunlight, leaving the team in darkness.

All the team could do now was socialize with each other. It didn't take long, however, as Charlie and Libby got lovey-dovey with each other, Tommy became uncomfortable.

"Is there a separate room on this Jet for the pair of them? I think they need it!"

The obnoxious Octoling yelled out, hoping to get a laugh out of someone, anyone, but instead got an awkward silence.

"Excuse me, mate, mind your own business, you dick-basket!"

Charlie responded smugly, getting a laugh out of Libby.

"Aw leave the baby boy alone, baby!"

She responded, causing Tommy to get grump.

"I will blast you to smithereens, motherfucker!"

He yelled back as he prepared his optic blast.

"Do it, mate! Go on!"

Charlie yelled, attempting to scare him into not doing it by appearing as not caring.

"OH I WILL, BITCH!"

The sensitive Octoling yelled as he prepared to fire. Charlie jolted upon seeing him reach for his visor. He didn't think he would actually do it.

"Hey! That's enough! We have one shot at this mission and the last thing I want is for you all to kill each other! Is that understood?!"

Sargent Gunn yelled, easing the pair of them.

There was an awkward silence filled with tension. Melissa thought of a way to break the tension.

"How did you all end up here?"

"END UP IN PRISON?!"

Steve yelled. Melissa nodded in response, but not liking his loud, croaky voice.

"I was taken down during the Splatsvile riots. I SMASHED EVERYTHING IN MY PATH! I was sent here after we were cured!"

"Nice one, big man! My man went down fighting!"

Charlie explained before going onto his story.

"Me and Libbs here went hand-to-hand against Rex Allen, we even found his address, after he kicked our asses. Emperor Bolton was pleased with us. We were taken down a day later by the douchebag- I mean the amazing Royal Army of Inkopolis City! I love them!"

"If you're gonna be sarcastic, then at least try to hide it."

Sargent Gunn said under his breath.

Libby turned to Melissa, wanting to come full circle.

"What about you, baby?"

"Oh, well I was a member of Bolton's Syndicate."

She answered.

"NO WAY!"

Charlie exclaimed.

"What was he like, love?"

"Wh-What was he like?!"

Melissa asked, thinking that the answer should've been obvious. Seeing her grow uncomfortable, Nonnie stepped in.

"I'm in here because I fixed his broken Blade. I can tell you that he was pretty freaky, I won't lie."

She commented, nodding at Melissa.

"Damn, boss man was nice to me."

Charlie muttered before someone else told their story.

"I blew someone's face off with a firework."

Amelia said. She felt everyone's concerned stares.

"He was attacking me! Don't feel bad! I shined too bright for him."

"Well...I'm here for a robbery."

Erik added, moving away from Amelia's strange shine comment.

"Same! And also for murder, blasted a hole load of troops. It was awesome!"

Tommy exclaimed, making the good Sargent roll his eyes.

Charlie then turned to Digger, who was quiet.

"What about you, Red Nightmare."

He said, trying to not laugh.

"What kind of fucking name is that, asshole?!"

"It is a name that sends fear into the hearts of those who hear it. A name that makes people think that I'm their worst demon lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike!"

Digger answered, sounding gloomy.

Everyone sat there, baffled before bursting into laughter.

"Okay! Whatever you say, dickhead!"

Charlie yelled. Sargent Gunn rolled his eyes. He empathized with the uncomfortable Melissa who sat there nervous and frowning.

6  H O U R S  L A T E R . . .

It was now nighttime. The Jet flew towards what looked like a tropical beach at first glance but little did the team know that the beach would become a graveyard.

"We're closing in, General, everything good on your end?"

On the General's end, he was in a monitor room filled with Inkling men and women who were tracking their signals and translating their audio, whilst silently doing a deadpool on every team member. The walls were mostly grey with the exception being the front wall that was taken up by a large screen. On the screen were headshots of the full team.

"Everything is good on my end. Good luck, Sargent Gunn, I have no doubt that you'll need it."

The General said before leaving his Sargent to his duties.

"Thanks for your kind words, General!"

He replied sarcastically before turning to the team.

"Listen up, because this situation is life or death. We're about to drop into a potential danger zone, assuming we don't get in good odds with the Acid Squids. Do not, under any circumstance, fight back or run away, the former of those things may only be done in self-defense. Have I made myself clear?"

"Rightio, boss man!"

"Oh shut up and let me blast things!"

"Agreed. Though if danger comes my way, I'll let my demon out..."

"I'm down, baby!"

"Okay! I'll have my weapons on standby!"

"Yeah. I hope they have iron in their blood!"

"I'LL SMASH THEM UP!"

"Let's shine, everyone!"

"O-Okay..."

After the team yelled back in unison, the backdoor opened whilst still in the air. Sargent Gunn moved to the front of everyone and stood to the side.

"One by one, I want each of you to jump out of the plane. Don't worry, you'll be protected by the water suit that you were given."

He assured them. It was time to start the mission.

"MOVE OUT!"

First jumped Charlie and then Libby, the latter of which screamed from the thrill of it all. As they grew closer to the water, the nanotech water suit began to activate, spreading across their whole body from head to toe, just in time for them to make a huge splash.

Following behind them were Melissa, Tommy, Erik, and Steve. The first three had regular splashes, at least when compared to Steve who caused mini waves to flow through the water. Amelia was next, followed by Nonnie, who both had around the same splash impact as the regular-sized Inklings and Octolings.

And the last of them was Digger, the Red Nightmare. He creepily gave the good Sargent a gentle touch of the shoulder before front flipping out of the Jet, diving head first towards the sea. However, unlike the rest of the team, his suit wasn't activating. Was something going on? Maybe once he made it closer he would-

S P L A S H ! ! !

The Red Nightmare crashed into the sea without the suit. Under the water, he screamed in agony as his body was torn apart slowly before exploding, filling the sea with his blood and guts. The team were horrified, causing them to sprint their way toward shore.

Back on the Jet, Sargent Gunn was instantly connected to the headquarters after what had just happened.

"Did any one of you check whether or not Red Nightmare had a swimsuit?!"

Back at the headquarters, all of the workers felt the glare that General Swannack was giving each of them, and rightfully so, it was their responsibility.

"For fuck sake! We aren't even at shore and someone is already dead!"

The Sargent yelled through the coms.

The General let out a sigh of disappointment as he opened up a box in front of the computer. Inside were the headshots of everyone on the team with two buttons, one to grey their icon out and the other to detonate the bomb in their head. Sargent Gunn only had one button, that being the former. The General greyed out Digger's headshot, signaling his untimely death.

Back at the Jet, the Sargent looked back to the pilot.

"Safe travels!"

He told him before jumping out of the plane to his squad below him.

By now, some of them had already reached shore, with their nanotech suits getting deactivated upon getting out of the water. Charlie, Libby, Melissa, Tommy, Erik, and Amelia were mortified, especially the third in the list who was leaning against the bolder, begging for it to be over.

Sargent Gunn emerged from the sea and was greeted by a cowardly Erik who came to him begging.

"No! Please don't make me do this! I want to go back, I want to go back!"

"Relax! You'll be okay if you follow my orders, okay?"

He assured the teary, old Inkling. He walked past them and looked into the forest ahead of them.

All of a sudden, bright lights began to flash at them through the trees. Sargent Gunn held his hands up and looked to the team.

"Stay put, that's an order!"

He hushed them as he stepped forward. Black-skinned, Inkling-like creatures began to emerge from the forest. They each wore nothing but ragged clothes around their groan and chest, they all had light green hair that illuminated the area.

The Chief of the clan emerged from the trees and marched his way towards the Sargent. As he arrived, he lowered his hands and became at ease as the Chief began to speak.

"Je hebt lef om hier te laten zien, legerman!"

Sargent Gunn only understood so much of the Acid Squids language, though he couldn't speak any of it.

"I'm here to represent the Royal Army of Inkopolis City. We wish to give you the resources to fight back against the Shark Kingdom, though we ask for them to be used in self-defense only."

He said to them calmly.

"Only use the weapons if King Salazar makes his move first."

"We hebben al geschikte middelen."

The Chief replied as he turned his attention to the scrap-built helicopter that flew behind him. It seemed rusty but it worked.

"Wat maakt die van jou nog beter?"

The Sargent jolted after seeing the rusty helicopter. However, like every good soldier, he wasn't about to get taken down that easily.

"Our resources are stable and clean. They also advance, but require proper training for if anyone wanted to use them."

He explained, still not impressing the Chief.

"Look, in the state that your weapons are in, you aren't gonna stand much of a chance against the Sharks, so if please can just-"

P E W ! ! !

A laserbeam butted in and sliced up the Chief, causing the Acid Squids to become hostile in an instant. Sargent Gunn jumped back to avoid getting hit by the Chief's acid-filled blood or brains. After landing, he turned left to see Tommy slowly marching toward the herd with a cocky smile on his face.

"Laserbeam, what the fuck are doing?!"

He exclaimed as he took cover.

"Teaching these assholes some manors!"

Tommy replied as he blasted the ground before the herd.

"Is he supposed to be doing this?! What the fuck?!"

Charlie yelled whilst looking at the Sargent.

"Laserbeam! Get back into your position! That's an order!"

The Sargent exclaimed but to no prevail, there was nothing that could be done now.

Tommy was scaring the herd back into the forest, even threatening to blow up their helicopter.

"You know what? Fuck it! I don't need this thing anyway!"

He yelled to himself as he removed his visor, thinking that he would be able to release a deadly beam. He looked towards the helicopter.

"DIE MOTHERFUCKERS!"

After one scream, he finally opened his eyes...Nothing happened. He blinked...Nothing. Not even a hundred blinks could cause a reaction. His intrudence had only angered the herd, who all glared at him, growling like a dog.

"Oh fu-"

B A N G ! ! !

A large, acid bullet flew straight into his head, blowing it apart and melting it from the inside. His face had been blown and melted away. Blood dripped down his clothes as his body fell to its knees and then flat on the ground.

Sargent Gunn clicked on his earpiece in panic.

"Laserbeam sabotaged us!"

He yelled before dodging an acid canon ball.

"They're now hostile!"

"Survive! Update me when you can!"

General Swannack replied before ending the conversation.

"Okay, everyone listen to me! Mind-Reader, Sparkler, stay by me! Boomerang-Man, Claw- Wait, what are you doing?!"

He yelled at Charlie and Libby who had already ran forward, encouraging Steve to do the same as well. Nonnie stayed behind a bolder to handle the enemies from afar. Erik laid on the ground to try and hide from them.

B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

Sargent Gunn marched forward and shot at them, managing to take out one of them with the first shot whilst missing another with the second. He navigated his way to a large rock which gave him cover. Melissa followed behind him along with Amelia.

Charlie front flipped to avoid shots from two of the Acid Squids', who fired their rusted guns. He threw his Boomerang at the pair of them now that they were both left open to attack.

S L I C E , S L I C E ! ! !

The Boomerang sliced through the slower half of the first Acid Squid's forehead, causing the top half to fall off, leaving his cut brain on display as he fell. Afterward, the second Acid Squid had her throat sliced. The Boomerang flew back into his grasp, causing him to chuckle.

B A N G ! ! !

An Acid Squid a good shot from behind, hitting his back, causing him to fall forward and start holding his belly as his insides slowly began to melt. Sneaking up from behind the Acid Squid woman was an angered Libby.

S L A S H ! ! !

Libby dug her claws deep into her head before ripping it apart, covering her claws with blood and brains as her head became as mushy as mushed-up peas. Libby rushed to her boyfriend's need.

"Baby! Are you okay!"

"Argh! I'll be okay! Stay close to me, love!"

Charlie yelled as he slowly got back onto his feet to continue to fight.

On the other side of the field, Steve was throwing Acid Squids into the sea to see if it had an effect, it did not. Meanwhile, Sargent Gunn, Melissa, and Amelia were stuck behind the rock.

B A N G , B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

Unfortunately, the Sargent missed every one of those shots. He was out of ammo and he needed a refill.

"Sparkler! Cover me whilst I reload!"

He yelled out. Amelia nodded before dashing out into the open to prepare to fire her weapon. Whilst she prepped herself, Melissa blasted her shock waves at them to knock them off guard, just in time for the fireworks to begin. However, something went wrong in her arm mechanism, oh so very wrong...

B O O M ! ! !

The firework went off, but it never escaped the arm socket, causing it to blow her right arm up. Amelia screamed and cried as blood gushed out of her open wound. Unfortunately, with the pain, she panicked and activated the rest of her suit.

B O O M , B O O M , B O O M ! ! !

First it was her left leg, causing her to fall onto her back, then it was her other arm, and then her other leg. She was already dead before her left arm blew up. The sand was stained in her blood as her body went pale.

Sargent Gunn and Melissa were horrified, the latter of which threw up at the first sight of her corpse. The former pressed against his headpiece.

"Sparkler's suit has malfunctioned! She's dead!"

"Damn it! What is going on?! Mr Fisk's creations never-"

The General was cut off by Sargent Gunn to avoid a devastating attack.

B A N G , B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

The rusty Helicopter shot down at the Sargent and Melissa. Whilst Sargent Gunn took cover, Melissa blasted at the acid bullets and managed to vaporize them, only barely. Steve came to the rescue, or so he thought, by leaping at the Helicopter to try and pull it down. Inside, the co-pilot aimed his shotgun at him and prepared to fire.

B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

In a quick act, Nonnie quickly forged a Splatterscope out of the scraps she had and shot both the Co-Pilot and the Pilot, the former's blood accidentally splatting into Steve's eyes as he fell out. Steve roared out from the blood splatter that he accidentally pulled the helicopter down to the ground, cutting up both trees and Acid Squids. Sargent Gunn, Melissa, and even Erik watched in horror as Steve crashed the helicopter.

Charlie and Libby were barely managing to keep fighting as both were shot by the Acid Squids, only for them to get cut up by the Boomerang. Weakly, they both fell to their knees, with Libby falling onto her belly. They both noticed the Helicopter falling.

S L I C E ! ! !

As the helicopter crashed, the propellers began to fall out whilst Steve was caught in the middle of it, slashing him up completely, cutting up his skin, brains, lungs, and heart, all whilst creating a mist of blood as the front lobe of his head splatted onto the floor.

Both Charlie and Libby stared at each other lovingly, the former giving her a sad expression as the helicopter crashed and the propellers raced towards them, leaving a firey trail as the loving couple shared one last loving moment.

S L I C E ! ! !

W H O O S H ! ! !

Charlie, Libby, and several of the Acid Squids were caught, sliced up, and burnt by the crash, with all their remains being evaporated. All seemed lost now. Most of the team had perished, with only Sargent Gunn, Melissa, Nonnie, and Erik still alive. Were they able to pull through?

B O O M ! ! !

Right as Melissa rushed around the rock that she and the Sargent were at, a canon ball explosion knocked her back onto the ground, temporarily stunning her. Acid Squids began to surround Sargent Gunn and all aimed at him. He held his hand up and accepted his fate!

"Wait!"

Erik yelled out from shore, getting everyone's attention. He cowardly walked to them.

"I-I'll you! I'll do anything for you! Just let me live!"

"Magnet! Don't you dare!"

Sargent Gunn growled.

"I-I can be free from it all! I can live the rest of my life with you instead of living in that hellhole!"

Erik yelled, accidentally trembling his words.

"Magnet, do not do this. You know what will happen!"

General Swannack said over coms.

"Yeah! Will you can suck my old dick, General! I waited too long to be out in the real world again!"

He screamed before looking back to the Acid Squids.

"T-The technology is advanced! I can help you k-kill t-t-them!"

Though his efforts to be tough was irable for a man his age, each of the Acid Squids quickly saw through him, with very few managing to see him wet himself in fear.

Back at shore, Nonnie was adding mods to her Splattershot, adding large ammo and making the fire rate faster, and aimed it at Erik. However, one of the Acid Squids caught onto her and alerted Erik via a roar. As soon as Erik turned...

B A N G ! ! !

The shot was fired and went at an intense speed. Fortunately for Erik, he had reached begun to control the magnetic field around him using his bracelet, allowing him to stop the bullet mid-air. He turned the bullet around and aimed it back at Nonnie before letting go.

S P L A T ! ! !

There was no time for Nonnie to dodge the attack, she accepted her fate. The bullet obliterated her face. Her blue and yellow suit was stained with dripping blood as a part of her brain slid out. Her body fell sideways to the left. Erik turned to the Sargent who had already begun firing his weapon. Melissa stood behind the rock and readied to dispose of the bullets, though ink bullets worked differently to than that of acid ones.

B A N G , B A N G , B A N G ! ! !

Erik caught each of them and began laughing maniacally as he succumbed to his ego. He fired the shots back at the Sargent, who dropped to the ground in his Swim Form to dodge the attack. Melissa blasted a blast to deflect the bullets, but the one bullet that chased her wasn't affected and in return, Melissa was hit in the chest, just next to her heart.

Melissa's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She placed her left hand on her chest and felt the blood pour out. She fell back and laid on the ground, struggling to breathe before closing her eyes.

Back at base, General Swannack opened the box once again, this time keeping it open.

"You've left me with no other option, Magnet!"

He whispered before He pressed Erik's detonation button.

Back on the beach, Erik felt a tingling feeling in his head. After three seconds it died down. Though he was startled at first, he quickly became calm and cocky after nothing happened. To bad for him that after two seconds-

B O O M ! ! !

Brains were blasted everywhere as blood gushed out of his neck like a water fountain. Pieces of skin and hair surrounded his headless body. His two eyes fell from the sky and landed on his back. With him now gone, the entire team had now been wiped out.

The Acid Squids turned to Sargent Gunn, who had both hands in the air after turning back into his Inkling Form. The Sargent left one more message for his General.

"They've got me. Continue the fight!"

He said almost fearlessly before ending the communication. He handed himself into the custody of the Acid Squids before being taken into the forest, leaving the corpses of his team behind.

Back at the base, everyone was left stunned. Not only was their top-ranking soldier now gone, but they now had no one left to fight. Their men were elsewhere and as far as they were concerned, there wasn't anyone else willing to fight, or so they fought.

"What now, G-General...?"

One of the workers asked, still in shock.

"The Acid Squids are now enemies and Sargent Gunn has been compromised. Our first priority is to get him back, and I think I might know a man smart enough to bring others together."

The General said before walking out of the room. As soon as he left, a worker walked over to the box and greyed out everyone except Sargent Gunn.

As the workers were left alone to give the deadpool winners money, many questions were now in the minds of most workers: what now? Who is this new team? Can Sargent Gunn be saved? Whilst others thought: do I have to pay for takeaway now? Did someone get more than me? Are my predictions too safe? Is anyone safe?

T O  B E  C O N T I N U E D . . .

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T H X  F O R  R E A D I N G ! ! !

Thx for reading the first Chapter of Redemption: A Splat Force Story! So, I bet you all probably processing what you just witnessed and I am here to reassure you that yes, that was real, that really did just happen. I hope that you all can understand the tone of this story now. Next week's Chapter will feature the introduction of a few new faces, some of which may or may not make it to the end of the story, so stay tuned for that! Until next time, stay safe out there! ^^

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#CuratorReview