After the Storm (A Splatoon 2 AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

What now?

She kept asking herself the same question as she stood in front of the computer screen, barely even looking at it. On the screen was a diagram of what seemed to be a blender, and several descriptions with some extremely graphic images of the process of sanitization. These were articles, how-tos written for the lab workers who were just starting out. Just what were they doing? Why were they doing this? What was their master plan?

The door suddenly opened, derailing her train of thought. An octoling in a lab coat stood in the doorway as Dedf1sh turned around, effectively defeating all means of escape. Dedf1sh watched as the octoling stared at her, waving to grab the latter's attention.

At last, the octoling responded. "Are you lost again, miss Dedf1sh?" she asked.

Again, the DJ thought. What did she mean by again?

"No," was what came out of her mouth. She then pointed to the computer screen. "What is this?"

The octoling nodded, walking up to the computer. She stared at it, before promptly closing all the windows and switching it off. 

"What are you doing, man?" Dedf1sh asked, her tone somewhat harsher.

"None of your concern," the octoling responded automatically, soon facing Dedf1sh. She then began to take off her shades, investigating them. "Your visor is deactivated."

"I don't care, man! Just, give me the answer to my question!"

After a bit, the octoling tried to replace the shades onto the DJ's face. Dedf1sh swatted the octoling's hand away. She stepped back, before turning around and leaving the room. The octoling, with the shades still in her hand, chased her after she ran out of the room.

Dedf1sh turned a corner, quickly switching into her octopus form. Things seemed blurry and dulled while she was in that form, admittedly, and she didn't like it. But she hoped the octoling pursuing her wouldn't notice, as she pressed herself further into the wall. Luck seemed to be on her side, as the octoling chasing her had turned the same corner, running past her.  She felt the thumps of footfalls , and saw a silhouette of the octoling as they ran, unknowingly chasing nobody.

It only took up to the count of ten for Dedf1sh to emerge out of her octopus form and look around. Things were less blurry for her as she emerged, but it seemed things were fuzzier in the distance. The way the light bounced off the white walls and floor didn't seem to help her vision.

She didn't want to admit it, but she definitely was lost. This area wasn't familiar to her at all. "Why didn't I print out a map?" she asked herself, slightly loud. She had to think of a way to escape. The octoling would soon realize that she wasn't chasing Dedf1sh anymore, and would probably alert the others. They would scour the entire facility, and eventually catch her if she were to stay.

So she needed to think. Escape was her only option at this point. If she could get as far away as possible from Kamabo, then maybe she'd be able to buy some time and figure things out.

She walked through the hallway, staying on high alert for any other sanitized that would usher her back to her room. Why was she in there in the first place? It felt like a blur to her.  What was she even doing in there? She could hardly recall her work.

What were the others doing? Why did that octoling pause so much? Why did she turn off the computer? Why was she so preoccupied with her shades?

Dedf1sh had soon come across a large set of metal double doors. On one of the doors was a sign: Warning: Authorized Personnel Only.

She disregarded the sign, pulling the handle to the door. It was slightly heavy to her, but she managed to pull it with enough force that she was able to enter through it. It would then shut behind her with a bang.