Back at the Superiority Complex, Inka and Marie spent the majority of their time conversing with one another. During which, they learned quite a bit about each other.
Their quiet chatter faded when the familiar footsteps of Sal echoed across the room. "How's the repairs coming along?" he asked, snacking on a bowl of severed tentacles. Inka shuddered, imagining where those appendages came from.
"Slowly..." Clod replied, shaking his head.
"Huh, well, put a little pep in your step. I need that console fixed ASAP," Sal said, biting into and ripping the flesh off a tentacle with ease.
The radio on Sal's belt buzzed amidst his lip-smacking. "Father? Father, are you there?" Masu's voice broke out from the static.
"Oh, there you are, Masu. I was wondering when I'd get an update." Sal answered, using his tail to grab and hold the radio up to his ear. "So, I take it Mahy was able to take down those squidbeaks, yes?"
Masu whimpered. "They...killed Mahy..."
Sal stopped chewing and immediately broke into a coughing fit. He cleared his throat before speaking. "You're joking... Right?"
"No..." Masu confirmed.
Inka and Marie watched Sal's face shift from neutral to furious in the snap of a finger. "NO!" he shouted, tossing the bowl of tentacles at Clod, who ducked and narrowly avoided it. The bowl hit the ground with a clang. Most of the tentacles came out; some even fell off the platform entirely. "NO, NO, NO, NO!" Sal yelled, jumping up and down with each shout. "Do you have any idea how long it took to condition Mahy?! And don't even get me started on the modification process!" He grabbed the radio with his hand, practically screaming into it.
"I-I'm sorry, father. But there was nothing we could do to help..." Masu responded, her voice timid and spooked.
Sal grabbed his head. "You've trained for years to prepare for a situation like this, and so far, you have failed three times, consecutively!" He huffed. "If you can't do the one thing I asked, then maybe Boris will."
Clod shot up from the terminal, his slightly irritated expression changing to horrified.
"No! Anyone but Boris!" Masu shouted in a panic, her tone matching Clod's look. Inka and Marie looked at each other, already disliking how Masu and Clod reacted to the name as if it were the Boogeyman.
"T-the human is heading for the second tower! Me and Hucho can intercept him right now!" she pleaded frantically.
Sal's facial expression changed again. This time, he looked curious. "He's heading for the Command Station?" He rubbed his chin quizzically, only for his eyes to widen in realization. "Oh, I get it." Sal abruptly laughed. "Akikta wants to fight back, eh?" He smirked. "Let him reach the command station. Assemble the salmon rangers while you're at it. The squidbeaks will no doubt be with him, so they'll need the Chrome Hog for this one."
"What about us?"
"Oh, I want you and your brother to fight alongside the rangers, obviously. It's about time we end this farce." Sal smiled. "This time, I want you and Huchen to use your weapons."
"Wait, really?" Masu sounded excited.
"Of course. Just don't go overboard. Remember, I need Akikta alive."
"Roger that, father! We'll get the human this time!" The transmission ended as Masu hurriedly left.
"You better." Sal placed the radio back on his belt. He'd then look to Clod. "I didn't tell you to stop working, did I?" Clod jolted and immediately went back to repairing the terminal.
YOU ARE READING
Survivors of Alterna: Final Run
FanfictionBetrayed, stranded, and hunted by hungry fish-like creatures known as Salmonids. This is the predicament Akikta, the last living human, finds himself in. After making himself an enemy of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, he learned he's been playing for t...
