Splatoon: Under Inkopolis

Power Struggles

The barracks were quiet by the time Kia finally got back from 1-A. Just got to get inside my room without anyone noti--
"Kia! You're back! Where have you been?" Marina exclaimed. She was sitting expectantly on Kia's bed.

"Ohh, hey Marina. I was just running a few errands"
She set the bag down on her bed. Swayz wiggled out, instantly Marina grabbed the bag.

"Kia"- her voice lowered--"Smuggling a pet into the barracks was risky enough, but why in Octavio's name did you bring THIS?" she revealed the headset.
"I left in in your cabin for a reason! If the authorities find out how much you talked to that inkling you could get in serious trouble! Why did you bring the headset?"

"It's working now! I can use it to listen in on Three"
"Kia..." Marina gently started, "Do you miss the inkling?"

"What? No! No way!" laughter bubbled involuntarily in Kia's throat, "I'm only using the headset to give me an edge for when we crush the Squidbeak splatoon! Its intel."

"Fine," Marina conceded, "Just keep it to yourself. Now let's get some rest. There's a meeting tomorrow morning that all elites are attending. So you need to be on your best behavior. No nonsense."
Kia shot Marina a wide eyed smile, "Me? Be nonsensical? Why the very notion is absolutely absurd"

-----

"Valley report please" Octavio commanded from the head of a long table. Octocommander, bombers, snipers, and a few octolings were seated at the sides. The relatively newer elites like Marina and Kia stood in the margins of the room.
"The agent has stolen all power sources from four of the five valley clusters, and he's already cutting into the fifth. As a result there's been massive evacuations, major air filtration problems, and several new trench ruptures. If this keeps up some kettles are expected to experience permanent damage."
Octavio's face folded into an even deeper scowl, "How unfortunate"

Kia's arm started inching up comment when Marina ensnared it with an iron grip. Their eyes locked and a battle of wills ensued. Kia's free arm flew forward only to be slapped back down by Marina's other hand. Marina pursed her lips, "stop" she hissed. Kia struggled weakly against Marina grip, before she sucker stomped on Marina's foot and tore her arms up and out of Marina's grasp. Disgruntled, everyone in the meeting turned to stare at Kia.

"I have an idea!" she said brightly, ignoring Marina's subsequent facepalm.
"What if we siphon some of the power from the great zapfish and use it to help the valley?"
"Impossible," an octocommander stated, "All the great zapfish's power is being held in reserve to power the octo bot aircraft attack unit."
"How is the aircraft's creation coming along?" Octavio rumbled.
"Swimmingly. It will be operational in a couple days"
"Perfect. That agent is in for a rude awakening"

At the end of the meeting all officials began to slowly file out. Kia walked up to Octavio.
"DJ Octavio, sir. I know you told me to keep my information about the zapfish to myself, but with all the panic at the valley wouldn't it be a good time to launch a mission to recover the fishes?"

"Lieutenant, this might be a little hard for you to understand, but the valley needs to be powerless at the moment. You see, invading the surface takes a lot of support and..."
"And what better support then a bunch of angry refugees to sic on anyone who disagrees with an invasion" Kia finished.

Octavio laughed, "Putting it bluntly, yes. While the valley caverns are dark and inhospitable anti inkling support is high. There will be plenty of time to regain the zapfish after we begin a full invasion."
"Until then the refugees must be left in the dark" Kia said coldly.
"Exactly, you may make a decent general one day" the DJ studied Kia's face, "Do not worry about the valley too much. It is only a matter of time before I crush Agent 3. Then the invasion will be imminent"