Survivors of Alterna: Final Run

Chapter 15: The Ink Demon

While Akikta and the others were busy fighting for their lives, Inka and Marie were busy avoiding recapture.

After escaping Huchen and Masu's pursuit, the two squids lurked around corners and maneuvered through Atlantis without being seen. The snatcher that saved them managed to lead them out of the tower that made up the Superiority Complex, so all they had to do was follow him as he navigated through the labyrinth that made up the sectors surrounding said complex.

The three trudged through empty, dimly lit halls. The atmosphere was relatively quiet, with only the occasional grumble and gurgle of a distant salmonid being heard here and there. If it weren't so cold and eerie, Inka would've found the walk pleasant.

She looked around, realizing how painstakingly slow their walk was.

There didn't seem to be any patrolling salmonids nearby, so Inka figured now was a good time to start up a conversation. "H-hey, snatcher... What's your name?" She choked out. It was a lot harder to speak than she thought it'd be, though, the fear of being caught brought on anxiety that definitely didn't make it easier for words to come out.

Without turning around, the snatcher responded in a meek voice. "My true name is Risky Retriever of Precious Golden Eggs."

"True name?" Marie caught.

"Y-yes. When the usurper came into power, he had all of us adopt what he considers proper names."

"What name did you pick?" Inka inquired.

"I didn't want to disgrace our traditions by choosing one... but the others refer to me as Ricky, anyway."

Ricky, I like that name. Inka said internally, not wanting to say it out loud in fear of unintentionally disrespecting salmonid tradition.

"Well, I'm Inka, and this is Marie." She introduced, which Ricky acknowledged with a nod.

"So, Ricky. If you're not on Sake's side, why're you here?" Marie wondered.

"Brother wished for me to maintain friendly relations with the usurper and his loyalists, as he did not want me to suffer any consequences if we lost our revolt against him. Which we did..." Ricky informed sorrowfully. "Despite my relation to him, I was able to avoid exile. Now I work from the inside."

Ricky grumbled. "The usurper has adopted many of your people's ways. Claiming they are better or more efficient than ours."

"Wait, I just realized something." Inka interrupted. "Sal—er, Sake... Eosalmo?"

"Usurper."

"Whatever you want to call him!" She pouted. "Marie, have you noticed he only speaks in our language?"

Marie's face blanked into a neutral expression. Then it morphed into a confused look. "He's always spoken that way... Even from my earliest memory, I don't remember him ever speaking in a different language."

"Huh...I thought salmonids had their own?"

"We do," Ricky confirmed. "But the usurper swears yours is more convenient than ours, so he had us all learn it. Some of us still struggle with it today..."

Marie frowned. "I'm not a big salmon person, but even I can see how messed up that is. He's replacing your culture!"

"And using us as pawns," Ricky added.

"Which is why I'm helping you. The usurper wishes to have you and the human. But we won't let him take either of you. Not without a..." Ricky's sentence trailed off as they turned and entered a wider hall.

In the distance was a large group of salmonids charging right at them.

"...Fight..." He solemnly finished, probably wishing he had kept his big mouth shut.