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Acht watches as Eight wheezes for air as she runs back into the elevator, with Pearl not far behind. It’s a miracle she doesn’t collapse right then and there. Excess Jelleton goo drips off the Splatana she wields, dripping onto the shiny floor of the virtual elevator. It quickly evaporates.
“That was a close one!” Pearl exclaims from above, fans whizzing as she examines Eight. The pixels on the screen of the drone squish together, which indicates that Pearl is squinting. There’s a low hum as she raises a brow, the small piece of metal moving up the track easily. “You okay?”
Eight nods, still gasping for air. She sets her Splatana down, resigning herself to lean against the back wall. Acht holds off on pressing the button for the next floor for now. It’s not like they were really in a rush anyways. This was what- the sixth palette Eight had reconfigured within the Memverse? They were almost halfway through the lockers now.
Acht’s eyes drift to Marina. It was unreal seeing her again. Technically, it was unreal, considering everything Acht could see was just lines of code and they were still somewhere in Kamabo Co. It was a little unsettling remembering that fact. But, point was, they were seeing Marina again. They were talking to Marina again. Nearly eight or nine years after the Octoling in question defected to the surface.
Marina clacks away at her computer, brows knitted in focus as she stirs up some code or whatever to keep Order at bay. Something like that. Acht didn’t really remember. After a few moments, she sighs with relief. They assume Marina achieved her goal of… Whatever it was. They continue to stare, not realizing when the other Octoling’s eyes meet theirs.
“Um… Acht?” Marina asks delicately. They perk up.
“Yeah?”
“...What was it like after I defected?” She murmurs quietly, barely audible. Acht pauses. Well. That was heavy. But they sigh, leaning back and scouring their mind to remember those days before that fateful night in the metro. It’s hard to remember things now. Everything is so muddled. But fortunately, Marina was one of the things they could still remember somewhat clearly. It was better than other things in comparison.
“People were shocked that an Elite Soldier just up and left. Nonetheless one in the Wasabi Unit, considering that you guys were the ones Octavio talked to the most.” Acht replies slowly. They vaguely remembered the chatter in the domes after Marina left. Hardly anyone could focus in the classes, much to the instructor’s chagrin.
“Oh.” Marina mumbles, looking away. There’s a few beats of silence, and Acht assumes they’ll leave it at that. They didn’t really wish to talk about it anymore either. But then the Octoling speaks again. “...I didn’t really understand the implications then. I’m sorry for up and leaving without a word.”
“No need to apologize.” Acht replies. Their gaze tracks elsewhere, though it wouldn’t really matter with their red visor obscuring their eyes. “It didn't bother me… much.”
–
“...But after messing with the systems for a little while, I figured out the Flooder’s detection system was way too sensitive.” Marina chuckles, waving her hand around to illustrate her findings. “Who would’ve known the solution was so simple?”
“You always figure stuff like that out easily.” Acht comments in response, humming contently. “You find a solution. You always do.”
“You flatter me too much.” The Octoling chuckles. “Anyone could’ve figured it out…”
“I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out.”
“Sure you would’ve.”
“Nah.” Acht snickers. “I’m too lazy for something like that. I would’ve scrapped the entire thing and called it a day.”
“Acht!” Marina gasps. “You wouldn’t just waste precious metal like that! You would’ve figured it out or come up with an alternative solution, I’m sure.”
“Have you ever seen me, Marina?” The Octoling raises a brow, a playful smile tugging at their lips. “You know how much the instructors despise me. I’m literally skipping class right now.”
“I would drag you back in there if I could.” Marina sighs, rolling her eyes. They stand in a comfortable silence for a little bit, with Acht not looking at anything particular. They’re both leaning against a railing in a small, secluded area a little bit away from the schooling areas. They can see the farmland sections from this view. Eventually, Marina pipes up again.
“You ever wonder what it's like? Up there?” Marina asks softly, gaze focused on the uppermost part of the domes. The screens up there were cracked and caked in dirt, far from being repaired. Acht doesn’t remember them ever being on as long as they were alive.
“...The top of the dome? Yeah, it would be cool seeing everyone as little bugs, huh?”
“You know what I mean.” Marina huffs, an amused smile pulling at her lips. “The surface.”
Acht follows Marina’s gaze towards the ceiling. They shrug. The Octoling had never really thought about it– the surface, and all that stuff. They were more concerned with trying to skip their lectures and slip past their superiors without immediately getting reprimanded. Not that Acht really cared when they did, but the walk to the instructor’s office was long and they were lazy.
“What about it?” Acht asks, adjusting a tentacle. “Can’t be too different from ours.”
“Are you kidding?” Marina gasps, eyes finally leaving the ceiling and meeting the other Octoling’s. “It’s probably way different up there! I mean, think about it! The environment, the resources, the Turf War games, and the freedom…”
Acht raises a brow at the word freedom. Marina’s eyes are practically shining as she lists things about the surface– or, what she assumed anyways. Acht listens intently, watching the other Octoling ramble with passion that no other could match. They always liked that about Marina. She was sincere and put her heart into everything, even if it was weird. Like excavators.
“I dunno. I wouldn’t be able to deal with all the stupid Inklings up there.” Acht jokes, shifting so they could lean backwards against the railing. “Yap, yap, yap… I already deal with enough droning down here.”
Marina doesn’t say anything, continuing to look off into the distance. Acht’s expression slightly falls, and they clear their throat. “Um… I get your point though. It would be nice having all that free time. I’d listen to so much music… “
“Oh, you’re right!” Marina’s eyes widen, and she smiles again. Acht’s heart skips a beat. “You would have so much time to yourself…” She chuckles, running a hand through her thick head of tentacles. “I don’t even know what I’d do with myself with that much time…”
“I know what I would do.” Acht murmurs, flipping back over to lean over the railing with the other Octoling again. They watch a few Octarians yell at eachother distantly. “I would make music.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“...I think I would too.”
“Really?” Acht can’t help but let an amused smile split their face. Marina was an Elite Soldier. No way she knew her way around a turntable. Though, considering Marina was… Well, Marina, who knows. Girl was smart in everything.
“Don’t give me that look.” Marina snorts, crossing her arms. “I know my way around a deck. I just don’t talk about it.”
“Well, excuse me for thinking you were too busy to get into that sort of thing.” Acht grins back. “But seriously, you should’ve mentioned that sooner. You know how crazy I am for new music, especially with Octavio’s weird rules about that stuff.”
That actually gets a laugh out of Marina, and Acht feels their face redden a little bit. Thank cod they knew how to play it cool. “I really should’ve, huh? I’ve been so caught up with stuff for the Wasabi Unit, and all the clean-up after the crashed concert…” She looks away again, and Acht has to suppress a sigh. They wish they could reach out. Reach out, let their fingers graze against Marina’s dark skin and soothe her. Hold her close and tell her that everything would be okay. Whisper sweet nothings into her ear until all of her worries were gone.
Acht just shrugs. “Well, you’re one of Octavio’s favorites. I’m sure he’d let your music have a pass.”
“Oh, no, my stuff is rudimentary at best.” Marina says bashfully, though Acht can see through her almost immediately. She’s soaking up the praise, and they hold back a smile. “I’d be more embarrassed than honored for it to play in the domes.”
“Nah.” Acht rests their chin on one of their palms. “I don’t think so.”
“You haven’t even heard it.”
“So?”
“So you can’t judge it!” Marina says, jokingly exasperated.
“Yes I can.” Acht playfully says back, and Marina just chuckles, rubbing her temples. They don’t talk for a few moments, watching the idle busyness of the Octarians below.
“What I’d do for some free time…” The Octoling sighs, and Acht can see her eyes drift back up to the ceiling. They know what she’s thinking. They purse their lips, hues also flitting upwards. They didn’t get it. Well, they did, of course everybody would kill for free time, but was Marina serious? Like, actually serious? Acht always admired the other Octoling’s headstrong trait, but now…
Acht supposed their expression gave them away, as Marina quickly follows up, shaking her hands and laughing awkwardly. “Nonono, I’m not gonna leave or anything… That’d be stupid of me. I’m just curious, y’know?”
Acht can read Marina like an open book. They know that look. That glint of wistfulness in her eyes. The longing. The desire. Marina is going to leave. She’s going to leave, somehow, because she always found a solution. She’ll find a way. She always does.
Acht doesn’t know what to think. They open their mouth to speak, but after a few moments, clamp it shut with a click of their fangs. They look away, and the two Octolings fall into silence.
–
Acht wheezes for breath. Their boots clack against the concrete as they desperately clamber up the stairs. Their hands grip at anything they can, clinging to the railing like a lifeline. Acht’s vision is a blur as they see Marina’s apartment door. They practically throw themselves at it, banging their fists against the wood.
“Please don’t be true, please don’t be true…” Acht whispers, strained. “Open the door, open the door, open the door…”
Acht regrets it so much. They knew, and still didn’t say anything. They knew real well, and still kept their feelings reserved. Marina was going to leave. They were certain of that. Yet, they still didn’t confess. They didn’t even hint to their true likeness of the other Octoling. And now Marina was gone. Left. Defected.
As Acht’s hand struggles with the knob, eyes too bleary with tears and mind too much in a frenzy to really do anything with sense, she thinks. Maybe Marina had made it out already. Maybe the sun was shining down on her and her beautiful tentacles. Maybe she was exploring the surface with unbridled joy.
Or maybe she had gotten lost along the way. Maybe she’ll even come crawling back- Acht knows it’s a selfish thought, but they just want Marina back. Just for one more moment. They’ll make it last, spill everything they thought of the other Octoling. Hold her close and cry into her shoulder, begging her to never scare them like that again.
But as Acht finally opens the door to Marina’s apartment and finds it desolate, she knows it’ll never come true. Marina was gone. For real. Gone to reach the surface, to reach higher aspirations than they would ever have. She was gone, and that was final.
Tears well in Acht’s eyes, and they begin to sob.