Salmon Run: Last Stand (A Splatoon 3 story)

Chapter 8: The Giant Squidling TriVerdict

I woke up in a white room. I found myself laid down on a white bed with white sheets. In the middle, a table, and chair stood, both painted white. No windows were visible. I got out of bed, wearing a black suit, slipping in a pair of black slippers. Where was I?

"Hook Line?" a voice spoke. "Hook Line, are you okay in there?"

I recognised that voice anywhere. "Platypus Bait? Where are you?"

"We're outside your cell, Small Fry. We weren't allowed to see you, but we were allowed to talk to you."

I was confused. "We?"

"Can't forget about us," Squid Surf spoke.

"Or me," Sting Ray spoke next. "I hope they didn't do anything nasty to you there."

"I'm fine, guys," I said. "Where am I?"

Platypus Bait stepped up. "You're inside your isolation chamber. They said placing you inside this white room would eliminate any aggressive thoughts."

"But sir. I would never be aggressive to anyone."

"We know," Squid Surf said. "But they insisted that you would be a threat to us."

"Trust us Hook Line," Sting Ray said. "We're doing everything we can to get you out of there."

"We can't stay long though, so I'll keep it brief," Platypus Bait said. "Everyone in Splatsville knows about you, your involvement with us, the puppet fish, and your incident. And they demand answers."

"How is that possible?" I asked.

"That vain professor of yours wanted to get all the credit for this. He made a public announcement about everything that has happened here."

"So, what happens now?" I asked them.

"They've decided to hold a public trial in the plaza to decide your faith. If they find you guilty, you'll be skewered or drowned."

I gulped my fears. "You're got to help me, please."

"We're doing all we can. Just wait here, okay?"

I heard the communication line cut off. I tried calling out to them, but no signal bounced back. This was horrible. Everyone knows about me. And now they could kill me. Platypus Bait better have a plan for this.

"Clammy? Are you here?" another voice spoke.

I knew who it was. "Saunni?"

"I'm here. What's going on?"

"I don't know. Something bad happened."

Her voice changed from concern to worry. "Oh no. Please don't be hurt. Are you injured? Did you suffer any cuts? Bruises? Missing limbs?"

"Saunni, I'm fine. I'm healthy."

"So, why are you here?"

There was no point in hiding it. She had to know what happened. I explained the results Doctor Fleming found and how it led to this. She didn't say anything, but I could feel her shock from this revelation.

"No, it can't be. It's not true."

"I'm so sorry, Saunni." I bowed my head down.

"Whatever it takes, Clammy, I'll find you a way out of there. We'll run away together."

"Saunni. There's nothing we can do."

"There's always a way. Please, I don't want to lose you too, Clammy."

"What do you mean?"

"Small Fry ... they came into your apartment and they took your Small Fry. I tried to stop them." This was worse than I thought. I can understand keeping me here. But what did Small Fry have to do with all this? "Please, I did all I could. They stopped me from doing anything."