Survivors of Alterna: Final Run

Chapter 18: Last Chance

Marie grumbled as she and Inka were placed back in their glass prison of a jar.

Neither of them tried to run, seeing as they were completely surrounded. Even if they had managed to break away from their captors' fins, they wouldn't have been able to outrun them.

Besides, they didn't know where to go without Ricky's guidance. Inka dearly hoped he was ok.

After they were put back in their jar, a few cohocks hoisted up a large boulder onto the lid, effectively trapping them.

From then on, the salmonids kept an eye on the two prisoners. Masu especially.

Nothing of note happened for a while. Marie and Inka didn't speak to each other, as the piercing stares of salmonids made it too uncomfortable to do so.

For some odd reason, Inka shifted her gaze over to the Steel Twins, quietly observing them. They were conversing with another group of salmonids that were passing by the cloning chambers. Well, Masu was. Huchen just stood there in silence.

Masu bopped her head abruptly, apparently laughing at something a Steel Eel said. Her mohawk-styled hair wobbled with each bop. Inka couldn't help but notice how similar her hair was to the Steel Eel's.

Despite being humanoid, like her father, Masu still had traits that closely resembled a salmonid, surprisingly enough.

Inka found herself staring, trying to wrap her head around how creatures such as the Steel Twins were possible.

She didn't hide her ogling very well, eventually catching Masu's attention as a result. After a few seconds, she cut her conversation with the Steel Eel short and walked towards the jar. When Inka realized she was coming over, she stood up.

"What is it, vile squid? Your staring is distracting." She said in an agitated tone.

Inka put her hands together and looked down, choosing to stare at Masu's metal boots rather than her scary face. "S-sorry... I just n-noticed your hair kinda looks like a steel eel's..." she murmured, seeing Masu squint from her peripheral vision.

"Mother was a steel eel, so it's only natural my hair matches theirs. But that does not give you the right to gaze at my figure with your filthy eyes!" Masu hissed, causing Marie to grit her teeth angrily.

"Lay off her, fish face! You guys have been doing the same thing!" Marie said in Inka's defense, standing up to Masu's height. "Besides, what's with the stinger mask if you're a steel eel? That's pretty confusing, y'know!"

Though her mouth was hidden, Inka could tell Masu was bearing her probably sharp teeth at Marie. "It belonged to a friend who perished in honorable combat! I wear it to honor his legacy. But I'm sure honor isn't something you'd understand!"

The two got right up in each other's faces—well, as close as the glass jar would allow.

"S-sorry..." Inka said suddenly, breaking the tension between Marie and Masu. "I can't imagine what it's like to lose a friend that way. It must've been hard... I'm sorry f-for your loss..."

Masu snarled. "I'm sure you are. After all, it was your people who took his and mother's life!" Inka flinched at Masu's raised voice. "Father was right. Your kind is nothing but a plague on this world. But soon, he'll get rid of you and those troublesome octarians."

Suddenly, a loud whooshing noise entered the room; Everyone looked up to see an octarian UFO—The same one Sal had left in. "Ah, would you look at that. He's back!" Masu said happily with a smirk, glaring at Inka and Marie.

His arrival could only mean one thing: He caught Akikta.

At least, that's what Inka thought. But when the UFO landed on the triangular platform, everyone but Clod was shocked to see a slightly bruised Sal with torn clothes and no human in sight.