Redemption: A Splat Force Story; Chapter 3

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W E L C O M E ! ! !

This is Nomad! Hope you all are feeling good today because I'm now ready to present the third Chapter of Redemption: A Splat Force Story!

Last week's Chapter was one massive cool-down after the massacre of its predecessor. This week's Chapter will develop the plot more and expand upon the characters.

In particular, this Chapter will have a big focus on Bruce as we finally discover more about our favourite Hammerhead Shark! By the time this Chapter ends, you'll be seeing him in a whole new light.

So without further ado, let's get into this!

:warning: WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE REFERENCES, AND SENSITIVE TOPICS! PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION! :warning:

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[(Chapter Hub)

C H A P T E R  3 : W E L C O M E T O T H E J U N G L E

Led sat alone at the back of a black truck. All he could think about was Melissa. She was gone, and he wasn't there. He failed. All the effort he made to keep her alive last year, all the lives he had to take, it had all been for nothing. All of it over a pointless conflict. Why did it have to be her? Why?!

He put his hands into his pockets and sighed, however, he was quick to feel paper inside his left pocket. Grabbing it, he took it out, barely managing to see what it was through the dim, red lights of the truck. It was an old photo of him and Melissa standing in front of the Deca Tower in Inkopolis. Everything was perfect back then. Led held the photo against his forehead forcefully, frustrated.

All of a sudden, the truck stopped moving. Led felt the change in motion as his body jolted. He held against the wall to not fall forward onto the seat opposite. Two Inklings in navy clothing opened the back door. Led jumped out of the truck and looked around. He saw the rest of his team get taken out of their trucks, except for Bruce, who was trapped in a cage before getting let out.

The team grouped in the middle of the smooth, wide stone path, all staring at the Jet in front of them. The team was then escorted towards the Jet and eventually made it inside, each taking their seats. Carson, Diane, and Bee sat on the left side, and Led, Bruce, and Shauna went onto the right side, with the latter of the three sitting in the corner by herself.

As the Jet began to take off, the backdoor remained open. Running up to the Jet from behind was the same middle-aged Inkling man who had inspected them before super jumped into the Jet, making everyone jump.

"Sorry I'm late, got caught up with getting supplies. I have food, drinks, hair gel for Flamethrower, meds for Elongate, and batteries for Bright-Light."

He said to the team as the back door closed, leaving everyone in near darkness, the only lights being the dim red ones on the wall.

"I suppose I need to introduce myself, my name is Vincent Fisk, you will refer to me as Mr. Fisk, am I clear."

"Aye aye, Captain!"

Bee yelled out, slagging him off as they giggled.

Mr. Fisk didn't look very pleased with them.

"This mission is no laughing matter! Innocent lives are at stake here, young la-"

Mr. Fisk had to stop himself before he made what he could assume was a big mistake on his part. Bee raised an eyebrow. He sighed in frustration as he made his way to the right row of seats and sat down between Led and Shauna. The whole room was silent, with not everyone wanting to speak to one another.

"Well, everyone seems to be quiet, how about some music?"

Mr. Fisk looked to the pilots' deck and snapped his fingers, seconds later an Off The Hook track began to play.

"Oh, I love Off The Hook!"

Diane exclaimed, getting excited in her seat.

"This is Nasty Majesty. One of my favourites!"

"Glad to know someone has my music taste..."

Carson muttered quietly, his comment going unnoticed.

"I wish I can see them live, but I don't know if they'll allow me..."

Shauna whispered almost tearfully. Unlike Carson, she was heard by someone, unfortunately, that meant Bee heard her.

"Well gee, aren't you such a mood drowner!"

They exclaimed.

All the talk of Off The Hook, specifically what Shauna said about wanting to see them live, confused Led.

"Aren't they dead though?"

He asked, specifically ing them dying at the start of Bolton's reign.

"Uh, what world are you living in, dumbass? They're alive and well!"

Bee informed. Led was too confused about them being alive that he didn't take in the fact that he had just been insulted.

"Wait, no! When Bolton's reign started, Bruce crushed them under rubble and ate them. Didn't you, Bruce?"

Led asked, turning the focus of the conversation to Bruce.

"I not know!"

Bruce replied, raising another serious question in Led.

"You don't know? Wait, do you even know what you eat?!"

Led asked to which Bruce shook his head slowly.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU EAT?! ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS, BRUCE?!"

"Okay! You need a bit of an explanation, seeing as you were in a coma for eight months."

Mr. Fisk said.

"Thanks for reminding me..."

Led muttered.

"The people that Bruce ate weren't actually Off The Hook, they were body doubles that looked and sounded like them, and even had to act like them. They took over the news whilst the real Pearl and Marina went off touring around the world. Once Bolton's reign started, and the doubles were killed, they went into hiding until a week after Bolton's death."

Mr. Fisk explained. Throughout the entire explanation, Led's eyes remained squinted.

"They donated half their net worth to the families of the body-doubles and have helped out in repairing Inkopolis after that giant fight that happened. They are doing a lot for society right now and the people are loving them for it."

"Aren't they both dating?"

Carson asked, this time his voice got heard.

"Buddy, everyone's been asking that for years. They might be, I don't want to get into their private lives."

Mr. Fisk said.

"If they are dating and want to come out, that's for them to do, not me. If you want my honest opinion, just watch any of their old news broadcasts, those speak for themselves, but Inklings are among the dumbest creatures on the planet, some still think Octolings are just Inklings with fancy hairstyles."

"What?!"

Led exclaimed. He had an idea of the average mindset of an Inkling but he never had a clue it was that bad.

"Hold on, you're the proclaimed smartest man alive and you're an Inkling? How the fuck does that work?!"

Bee asked, questioning his intelligence.

"The same could apply to you being a Sea Urchin and being dumb as squit but I'm not gonna get into that!"

Mr. Fisk shot back, angering the Sea Urchin.

"OH FUCK OFF! DO YOU WANNA TALK SQUIT ABOUT ME 'CAUSE I'M UNDER YOUR CONTROL-"

They yelled, standing up and walking to him to make their point. Even when sat down, Mr. Fisk was still taller than them. She stopped yelling as soon as Mr. Fisk finished tapping the large device on his wrist. He showed what it was to Bee. It was a screen that had the headshots of everyone on the team. In addition, he briefly switched off the music.

"Wh-What is that?!"

"A device linked to the bombs on your head. You go out of line or attempted to kill me, or your comrades, I can detonate the bomb myself. Now, it's up to you whether or not you want your brains scattered everywhere and your blood stained on the walls of the Jet. Personally, that would be very inconvenient as the R.A.I.C have to start flight training classes very soon. My suggestion would be to sit down, shut the fuck up unless you were given permission, and wait for orders. If not, say goodbye to your head, and your life."

Mr. Fisk told her. He said everything with such a suspiciously calm voice that it frightened Bee, and most of the team, excluding Carson, who didn't care about the bomb.

"Have I made myself clear, Razor-Quill?"

Quietly, Bee nodded and sat back down. Mr. Fisk looked back to Led.

"Now, you have a lot to catch up on and we have about six hours until we arrive. Shall we begin?"

Led's eyes widened. Six hours being stuck with everyone. He knew it was gonna be a long ride.

"Six hours?! Oh fuck..."

He muttered, dragging out the last word as the Jet continued its journey across the world.

6 H O U R S L A T E R . . .

Just like the last team, they arrived at the beach at night. Instead of going the front wag like they did last time, they instead opted to go in from the side.

"Mr. Fisk, we've arrived."

The pilot informed.

Almost instantly, Mr. Fisk rose from his seat and walked to the opening back door.

"Alright ladies and gents-"

Mr. Fisk said before getting cut off by Bee coughing and raising an eye at him. Mr. Fisk rolled his eyes to the back of his head.

"And...Whatever we call you, you might've noticed some small disc in your clothes when you got them, you might be wondering what they are."

"I'm sorry, but can we please just get to the point!"

Led anxiously asked loudly.

"Quiet, Volteer!"

The group leader replied.

"Levin!"

Led shot back, still hating the nickname chosen for him.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't care. Anyway, that disc will evolve into a waterproof suit made out of nanotechnology, useful for going into deep waters with you lot because...You know."

He explained. Led went from feeling anxious to horrified as his eyes widened.

"When we make the drop, the suit will form as soon as you get closer to the water."

"Wait, what do you mean drop?! As in, in the water?!"

Led asked, his voice croaking like a frog.

"Yes...Why do you think I brought up a waterproof suit and a drop, whilst also going into detail about how to come to formation as we get CLOSER TO THE WATER? SERIOUSLY, ARE YOU OCTOLINGS THIS FUCKING STUPID TOO?!"

Mr. Fisk asked. It was at that moment that he started questioning the intelligence of every single sea creature that existed around the globe.

"Oh fuck! Oh no!"

Led panicked. Never before had anyone seen Led that terrified, not even Bolton made him that scared.

"Look boss, I'm sorry for being a dick but please don't make me jump in the water!"

Mr. Fisk's mouth dropped as his eyes squinted. He clicked his earpiece and connected with the General.

"General, are you hearing this?"

"I didn't know you had an aquaphobia, Volteer."

The General said to Led over the coms.

"Levin! And of course! Who doesn't fear the very thing that could tear their bodies apart?! Not to mention that lightning and water DON'T MIX WELL!"

Led shouted. Bee was laughing hysterically, Shauna was watching in fear, Diane stared lovingly, Bruce was curious as to why Led was horrified of the water, and Carson didn't care one bit.

"Okay, let's get this over with!"

Mr. Fisk grunted as he walked to Led, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"NO! GET OFF ME! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!"

Led begged but to no use. Mr. Fisk threw Led off the Jet.

"FUCK YOU!"

Led's screams echoed as he fell to the water. Mr. Fisk looked to the rest of the team. He looked ready to finally start the mission after that short delay.

"Everyone go now! Hammerhead, you wait until everyone's on shore, then jump."

Meanwhile, Led grew closer to the water, causing the nanotech suit to activate, covering his whole body and saving him from the large body of water. All of the suits were metallic grey and had striped patterns. On the face was a black visor so the could see. In the center of the stomach was a light to show the way through the dark seas. The light was in the color of the 's hair, in Led's case being a sand color.

Immediately after reaching the water, he instantly swam towards shore. As he reached the sand, the suit came off him. He felt as if he was about to throw up. He gagged strongly for a moment but nothing came out.

Not long after, the rest of the team ed him on the beach. Bee had to hold back their laughter. Shauna looked horrified and on the verge of tears. All of a sudden...

S P L A S H ! ! !

Bruce came hammering down into the water, causing a large wave of water to splash down onto everyone, all of which got protected by the nanotech suits. Mr. Fisk look down at Led and sighed as the suits deactivated.

"Get up."

He said coldly before walking towards the jungle, followed by the rest of the team and Bruce.

Led slowly managed to stand up again and ran over to the rest of the team.

"Are you done bitching about?"

Bee asked with a cheeky smirk on their face.

"Are you done being a dick to everyone?"

Led asked, his adrenaline still pumping from earlier.

"aRe yOu dOnE bEiNg a dIcK tO eVeRyOnE? Seriously, you're supposed to be this fearless, badass assassin yet so far, you've been nothing more than a winey pussy who can't even handle a bit of water!"

Bee exclaimed.

"You can suck a dick for all I care! Maybe that speedster of yours, what was his name? Jamie?"

"First of all, his name was Damian! Secondly, he's dead!"

Led exclaimed as the team walked through the trees of the jungle to try and find somewhere to camp for the night.

"Oh...That's sucks! I don't care all that much, he would've been too fast for you anyway..."

They said, muttering the last sentence under their breath.

"Anyone else that you once knew?"

"Well, there was this guy I knew a few years ago back when I first met Bolton. His name was Jason, he had the ability to transform himself into practically anyone, regardless of species or gender."

He explained.

"To be honest, he did fuck all. He never really contributed to anything and he was killed off by a Splat Force Rookie, who I believe was a kid when that happened. Sometimes I forget he even existed."

"Damn, giving head would've been interesting."

Bee said. Their words grabbed the attention of Vincent Fisk.

"Can you all stop with the dick talk! It's fucking disgusting!"

Mr. Fisk yelled, causing everyone to stop in their tracks.

"Did someone say-"

Diane asked before getting abruptly cut off by Mr. Fisk.

"Shut the fuck up!"

He yelled at her before going back to the rest of the team.

"I can't believe I now have to spend weeks with you imbeciles! The pair of you at the back won't stop fighting! You, Flamethrower, have a disgusting fetish that makes even me question the dignity of Cephalopodkind! Bright-Light, Elongate, you two are just miserable and have said practically nothing the entire journey! And you, Hammerhead...I-I don't even know what to even say about you..."

"He doesn't even know what planet he's living on, I can guarantee that!"

Bee exclaimed as they, Diane, Shauna, and Carson all sat down.

"Well let's test that, shall we?!"

Mr. Fisk asked before he, Led and Bruce sat down. Everyone sat in the circle.

"Hammerhead, are we living on the Planet Mars?"

"No."

Bruce answered straightforwardly.

"Okay, are we living on the Planet Mercury?"

Mr. Fisk asked.

"No."

Bruce answered straightforwardly once again.

"Okay, we're getting somewhere! Now, are we living on the Planet Earth?"

Mr. Fisk asked with a sarcastically excited look on his face.

Bruce sat there, puzzled.

"What Earth?"

"Oh fucking hell..."

Mr. Fisk whispered, face-palming as Bee erupted into laughter. Despite knowing him the longest, Led felt Mr. Fisk's pain.

"Mr. Fisk, can I ask something?"

Diane asked before getting the nod of approval from the man himself.

"What'll happen after the mission? Is there an award?"

"Bold of you to assume that you'll be making it out alive."

Mr. Fisk said ominously, making everyone go quiet and straight-faced.

"IF you make it out alive then you'll be freed. The bombs in your head will be taken out and you'll be off into your own lives again like nothing ever happened, though you're gonna spend the next decade under the R.A.I.C's supervision, of course. You'll be free to do whatever you please, as long as it's legal. Now, anyone willing the share what that very thing is that you want to do?"

"I want to go back to being a skater!"

Bee answered.

"Why does that sound like you? I've only known you for six hours yet that sound spot on for you..."

Mr. Fisk replied before moving on to Led.

"Volteer."

"Levin..."

Led whispered frustratingly, getting an eye roll from Mr. Fisk.

"I just want to live out my life in peace. I've been in conflicts for too long."

"Peace. Don't we all want peace? What even is peace anyway?"

He asked, making almost everyone groan.

Led held his head in his palms.

"Oh please don't go philosophical, I'm begging!"

Mr. Fisk's face remained straightened, with his right eyebrow raised before looking to the next individual.

"I'm scared to ask this but, Flamethrower, what do you want most?"

"Well I want to find grown, muscular men to take home so I could grab onto-"

She answered before getting cut off by Mr. Fisk pointing a gun at her, causing her to go silent with her hands held up.

"The only reason I'm not pulling the trigger is that it's now my job to look after you all. If it wasn't, that grass behind you would be stained dark blue. So please, keep your gross fantasize to yourself, you sick, demented fuck!"

He requested before lowering the gun and raising his wrist, tapping onto her icon and activating the bomb. She felt the vibrations in her head as the bomb was seconds away from activating, followed by a stretched-out, high-pitched beeping sound. In a flash, Mr. Fisk deactivated the bomb by tapping on the overrule button. Diane looked around confused.

"That was the bomb inside your head. That beeping sound and the vibrations would be the last thing that someone would feel and hear and then pop! Anyways, going back onto topic, Bright-Light, let's hear what you want."

Shauna had been frightened by Mr. Fisk. He wouldn't actually kill them, right? He couldn't! All the attention was on her now and she hated it.

"I-I don't know..."

"Okay, we'll come back to you."

Mr. Fisk said before moving on to the young man next to her.

"Elongate?"

"I wish to die before I reach the end so the impending doom of death doesn't slowly drain my life away until I'm nothing but a slim, lifeless husk of a body..."

Carson uttered.

Nobody knew what to say to that, not even Mr. Fisk. They all looked at him, concerned, even Bee showed some concern over him.

"Okay...Moving on!"

Mr. Fisk said before turning to the final member of the group.

"Hammerhead? What is it that you seek?"

It took a hot second for Bruce to answer the question but when he did, he sounded strangely serious.

"Honor..."

Of course, Bruce's serious answer had confused the rest of the group, especially Led.

"Wait, honor? Bruce, since when did you care about honor?"

"Wow, you don't even know all the details about your best friend?"

Bee asked.

"He never mentioned it! And how the fuck was I supposed to know about his desire for honor? All he did was eat!"

Led exclaimed.

"Maybe you should've been a better friend and read his signs better! Maybe then he wouldn't have struggled to come out with it!"

Bee shot back, starting yet another heated debate.

"How the fuck was I supposed to read his signs, I'm not an empath! I knew one but she's dead!"

He exclaimed, his voice croaked, showing vulnerability over her loss.

"Oh boo-hoo! We've all lost someone, jackass! If you're not man enough to accept the fact that people die then do us a favor and walk into the water, without the suit!"

Bee yelled back. Diane watched both sides clash with great interest, Bruce was stuck in the middle and Mr. Fisk was losing his sanity.

"Shut the fuck up or I'll blow that smug face of yours into smithereens!"

Led shouted, standing up and charging his techno gifts.

Whilst the two fought, Mr. Fisk tried to calm them down, but they kept going. Carson, who wasn't too bothered about almost everything, saw Shauna crying in fear. He moved closer to Shauna.

"What's up with you?"

"I-It's so loud!"

She uttered, sniffling her runny nose as tears fell from her face.

"Have you tried covering your ears?"

Carson asked, with Shauna somehow able to hear his monotone voice through the screaming.

Shauna put her hands over her ears but did not press down against them.

I-I can still h-hear them!"

"Press against your ears."

He suggested.

As Shauna's ears were covered, everything began to go quiet. Of course, it didn't completely take out the sound, but it made it a whole lot more bearable.

"Th-Thank you..."

She whispered.

"I'm Shauna."

"Carson."

He replied before going back into his emotionless state after helping Shauna cope.

The more that Led and Bee bickered, the more frustrated Mr. Fisk became until he finally decided that enough was enough. He got his gun out once again and aimed it at the sky.

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

Everyone jumped and Shauna screamed. After a second, everyone had gone silent. Mr. Fisk took a deep breath and sighed. Everyone was finally calm.

"Now that we're all calm, we'll camp here for tonight. I want one of your to get wood for the campfire."

He said before Diane jumped onto her feet and ran to find some wood.

"When that's done, I'll sort the sleeping bags out, afterwards, me and you, Volteer will do a perimeter check. Am I clear?"

They all nodded. At that point, Led had become too exhausted to even correct Mr. Fisk. Mr. Fisk took his backpack off his black-plated battle armor and put it on the ground before him, opening it up and grabbing seven small rectangles, throwing them to each member of the team, and saving one for himself. He threw Diane's to where she was just sitting.

"Just lay it down on the ground and press the button in the center, like this."

He instructed before pressing the button. The rectangle expanded into a wider shape. A thick bed sheet was now popping out of it.

As everyone else did the same, Diane returned with the wood. She chucked it all in the middle and began to sort them out into a neat pile. Once that was done, she aimed her left hand at it, firing a small flamethrower at it from her techno gift, starting the campfire. Bee, Shauna, Carson, and Diane all went to sleep in their bed. Bruce ripped off the sheet and walked to a nearby tree, putting the sheet onto him as he rested against the tree. Led and Mr. Fisk went around to do their perimeter check, placing small traps along the way, in case an Acid Squid were to find them. When they returned, the camp was now a safer place.

L A T E R T H A T N I G H T . . .

At night, the jungle was a soothing place. The trees would flow in the breeze, the insects would make ambient noises that would make anyone feel relaxed. Surprisingly enough, the air was warm. It helped that it was the middle of summer.

Everyone was in their respective beds, asleep. Surprisingly enough, not one of them decided to kill anyone in their sleep. For the first time during the entire journey, everyone was relaxed, even Led. Actually, not everyone was sleeping.

Bruce was still awake. He couldn't sleep as he had something on his mind. He stood up slowly, making sure not to make too much sound so he wouldn't wake anyone else up. Once stood up, he left the group, walking to the left of Mr. Fisk.

Back at the headquarters, one of the barley-awake workers noticed movement. It was coming from the tracker unknowingly placed under Bruce's back fin.

"Hey General, Hammerhead's on the move!"

The tireless General looked at the screen and saw his icon move away from the team. Using his one arm, he reached for the box, opened it, and pressed on Bruce's headshot.

"Hammerhead, return to your team."

Bruce heard the General through the coms in his ears.

"I have something to do. I must see King Salazar!"

He told him.

"I'll be back before team wake up."

"Hammerhead, if you cross us I swear-"

The General said before getting cut off by the Shark.

"I won't cross! I only want see Salazar and end war!"

Bruce assured them as he ran through the trees.

After a long think, the General gave in.

"Okay, but if you don't return by morning then you are officially an enemy and must be put down on site. Am I clear?"

"Yes."

He said before reaching another beach.

This wasn't just any beach, it was the same beach that the previous team was at before they all died. Bodies were scattered across the blood-drenched sand. By the remains of Erik McKellen was a small, recently made puddle of vomit, possibly from one of the Acid Squids. Bruce looked around and tried to find Melissa but strangely enough, her body was already gone. From where the body was, going all around the beach were footsteps. It was easy for him to guess that they took her body and would come back for the rest.

Bruce pushed both of his feet against the ground before stomping over to the front of the beach, accidentally squashing Tommy Nash's head, making it look like a smashed pumpkin. Once he reached the water from where Melissa's body once was, he leaped away into the night.

5 M I N U T E S L A T E R . . .

Bruce landed on a small circle of wet sand, surrounded by the sea. If he looked into the distance, he could see another beach, this time coming from a large city, but he wasn't focused on the city. He was instead focused on the large, blue spot in the middle of the water, far from the shore. He ran forward and dived in.

Bruce swam to the bottom of the sea and arrived at an illuminated place of residence. There were small, egg-shaped houses leading up to an enormous castle with various entry points. Far behind the castle was another building, it was circular with a cone roof. Around the castle were large walls, which were heavily guarded, to prevent anyone from breaking in. Everything, every structure, every building, everything was all a bright cyan.

As Bruce made his way down to the front gate, two Orcas with tridents swam at full speed toward him.

"Prince Nanaue, you aren't welcome here!"

One of the Orcas growled.

"I've come to see brother! I want speak with him!"

Bruce requested, only to get laughed at by the guards.

"Why would you get see King Salazar? After what you done, traitor!"

The other guard spat, annoying Bruce.

"I want to end war! Before war starts!"

He answered.

"He only bring death, not peace!"

"Aren't you same Shark who side with Bolton Vulcan?"

The first Orca asked.

"He manipulated me! I turn against him!"

He assured.

"Please! I beg that I see brother! It important!"

The two Orcas looked at each and smirked before nodding. The pair of them took a few steps away from Bruce and discussed it to themselves. Bruce had no idea what it was that they were saying. After a few moments, they came back.

"We take you to King Salazar now!"

The second of the Orcas, delighting the Hammerhead Shark.

"Hold fins out!"

Bruce held out both of his fins, allowing them to get wrapped up in chains. The Orcas walked up to and opened the front gates, allowing them to walk through the kingdom.

Upon reaching the castle, two more guards moved aside, allowing entry into the Castle. Every single building was its own breathing spot with the entrance being blocked up by a wall of water. Upon going through the wall, Bruce was greeted by the cold air as he looked down a large, wide blue corridor. It was like the inside of a regular castle on land.

Bruce was taken down the corridor and turned right, leading to a spiral staircase. On the walls, everywhere, were portraits of kings from the old times, Bruce's ancestors before him. Once he reached the top, he was met with a portrait of his father. He looked at the photo with a frown.

"King Salazar is getting told of your arrival. You wait for him to come."

One of the Orcas said before the pair of them left Bruce alone with the portrait.

Bruce was sad. The portrait was what filled him with sorrow as he thought back to the past, to his infant days. Getting cuddled in the enormous arms of his mother and father, getting fed fish for the first time, and playing with his younger brother. He then got flashes to getting older, holding a trident for the first time, and swimming with all of his family. The happy memories died away once he reached his young adult days, particularly the day of his father's ing, no, his murder. Death by a trident. Before he could think further, the door opened at last.

Bruce rushed through and entered a large, stadium-like room. There were no portraits, only a carpet that led to the very end to a throne. Sitting on the throne was another Hammerhead Shark, with the same body features, minus the face and chest scars. The Shark wore a dark blue crown and a bright red, fluffy cape.

"Brother. Welcome home!"

King Salazar greeted. His voice was deeper and raspier than that of Bruce's.

"Salazar please listen! War with Acid Squid be the downfall of Shark Kingdom!"

Bruce pleaded as he walked closer to the frown, accidentally crossing a faint, dark blue line on the ground.

"DON'T CROSS LINE, BROTHER!"

Salazar bellowed. Stunned, Bruce hurried back, away from the throne. It appeared that he was more concerned about a throne than the possible deaths of many, including his own people.

"The Acid Squid are puny! They have no strength! We need to grow land and resource. Our resource are limited! We downfall if no action take place!"

"What if it escalate? What if Acid Squid aren't enough?!"

Bruce asked.

"If more land is at need, more land is at need!"

The King yelled before questioning Bruce's set of morals.

"You have no right to question my moral after what you done to father decades ago!"

"Salazar, please, I not kill father! I loved father! Why would I kill father?!"

Bruce whimpered.

"YOUR TRIDENT STAINED IN FATHER'S BLOOD!"

Salazar roared.

"YOU KILLED FATHER!"

"NO! I NOT KILL FATHER, SALAZAR!"

Bruce screamed, but Salazar wasn't having any of it.

"YOU'RE DISAPPOINTMENT, NANAUE! GUARDS! GUARDS!"

Salazar yelled. Seconds later, two more guards in silver armor with tridents came in and forced Bruce out.

"SALAZAR! SALAZAR!"

Bruce screamed as he was being taken out. Right as the door had closed, Salazar had a sinister grin on his face.

Bruce was taken out of the Kingdom with no possible way of getting back in. He was hopeless. He swam back to the surface and arrived back on the back surface, connection to R.A.I.C had come back online now that he was no longer underwater. Bruce frowned and wiped his teary eyes with his fins.

"Hammerhead, are you done with the visit?"

General Swannack asked over the coms.

"Yes..."

Bruce said quietly.

"Are you feeling, okay?"

The General asked, noticing his sudden attitude shift. He had never heard Bruce sound miserable before. Bruce shook his head, something the General couldn't see.

"Well regardless, you must return to your team. Am I clear?"

"Yes..."

Bruce said whilst nodding as he stood back up. He pushed both feet against the ground with all his might before he leaped into the air.

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 third Chapter of Redemption: A Splat Force Story! Have you gotten used to the new team yet? If so, try not to get your heart ripped out over the next few Chapters! Next week's Chapter will see the team enter the danger zone once more in an attempt to save Sargent Gunn. Will they succeed? Next week's Chapter will be another blood bath, so stay tuned for that! Until next time, stay safe out there! ^^

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