Survivors of Alterna: Best for Last

Chapter 11: City of Inkadia

After walking through the tunnel, Akikta and Nakji eventually arrived at Inkopolis Station 1, just like Astro said they would.

It was packed with people, mainly inklings and jellyfish. "Over here!" Nakji said, taking Akikta's hand and dragging him through the dense crowd. She tugged him up a flight of stairs toward a bright light. The brightness made Akikta close his eyes.

"Whoa..." Nakji gasped.

Once they reached the top, Akikta slowly opened his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the oncoming brightness. When he could finally see, he joined Nakji in her wowed state. "Whoa..."

All around them were the streets of a metropolis—cars whizzed by them, all varying in color, shape, size, and design.

There was constant chatter everywhere as sea creatures of all kinds passed by, entering and exiting the various shops on the sidewalk. As some passed Akikta, he got a whiff of the strong heavy-duty cologne they wore, making his nose recoil instinctively.

He backed away and looked up at the towering buildings and flashy billboards that slightly obscured his view of the daytime sky. Even then, he could still feel the warmth of the sun's rays.

This was it. Inkopolis. "This place reminds me of home," Akikta commented, noting how similar Inkopolis looked to Alterna before its collapse. It was nothing like Splatsville, with its chaotic layout. It looked more orderly and compact, what he expected from a bustling city.

Without wasting another moment, Akikta unhooked his radio. "Sal?" He spoke, only to hear lip smacks in response.

"Oh, hey, A. You there yet?" Sal asked, swallowing whatever was in his mouth.

"Yeah, we're here. This place is a lot bigger than I thought it'd be."

"I know, right?"

"You've been here before?"

"Eh, once or twice," Sal stated. "We're in the home stretch now, A. I don't think I need to tell you what'll happen if you mess up," he said, sounding a little on edge.

"Don't worry. I won't mess up." Akikta said confidently.

"Right. Once you do your part, let me know immediately, and I'll give you new coordinates. We'll meet there."

Akikta couldn't help but smile at the idea of meeting Sal. He had wondered what the man looked like for so long. Was he tall? Short? Black? White? What color were his eyes? Was he bald? Akikta's imagination ran wild.

"Also, be careful. I'd prefer it if you didn't run into any more of those agents. If they catch you on their home turf, things could get really bad." Sal warned, snapping Akikta back into focus mode.

"Right. Don't worry. They won't be seeing me. I'll be like a thief in the night."

"...Right..." Sal creaked. "Just remember to-"

"Yeah, yeah. I know, keep it discreet."

"Heh, glad to know you've got a good memory." Sal finished, then the radio crackled off.

Akikta rehooked the radio to his belt and turned to Nakji, whose face was pressed up against a store's display window. "Come on, Nakji. Let's roll." He waved her over; she quickly joined him at his side.

They walked down the streets for a few minutes, admiring the sights and flashing lights. Occasionally, they'd pass by posters and electronic billboards with a humanoid duo posing on them. They only stuck out to Akikta because it was always the same two people.

Both appeared to be female inklings wearing matching black dresses, earrings, and white gloves. However, one's dress had a magenta hue to it, while the other had a green tint.