New Squidbeak Splatoon: Ascension

Even at night, Octo City was as bustling as ever, with plenty of lights that cut through the darkness and a fair amount of people that were still up, even if a lot of these people appeared to be engrossed in holographic cell phone equivalents rather than with the world around them (not that that really felt different from their own world). The colorful night-time atmosphere probably would've sent Callie and Oliver good vibes if it weren't for the pressing matters at hand.

As they walked down the streets, navigating through the different islands of Octo City to find what they needed, Oliver kept his gaze down, trying to keep his face partially covered at all times while trying to look as non-suspicious as possible. Callie, while walking more casually with her prosthetics still on, walked in front of him in her best attempt at helping him hide.

"So to make triple sure I have this straight-" Callie continued. "You and Eight are both clones of Lydia Tecca... and are technically only a few years old."

"Correct." Oliver replied.

"But Lydia Tecca lived the life of a full person. And is still out there as, you know, Shadow."

"From what I understand."

"Man." She shook her head slightly. "That's still trippy. But hey, I'm glad that Eight technically has a brother now." She said as she glanced back at him. "For better or worse..."

"What could be 'worse' about it?"

"N-Nothing, I shouldn't play with scenarios like that."

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your fascination with Lydia Tecca?"

"...Well..." She started, hesitating. "I'm just trying to, you know, get into the head of this person. You know, understand what she wants."

He briefly shook his head as well. "It's beyond me. All I wanted was to make it to the surface, not... whatever this all is supposed to be. Some utopia. Does this look like a utopia to you?"

"No. Oh, god, no. In a utopia, Marie and I would, of course, still be together forever, Samantha wouldn't be dying, and I wouldn't have... the problems that I do. But, uh... speaking strictly for the Octarians?" She looked around. "Yeah, I don't know, maybe. It's a step up from what they lived before, at least."

"It was born out of bled ink. That's all I need to know to be assured this world isn't good."

"Well... does that really make it that different from our own world?" She pondered out loud.

He sighed. "I don't... I don't know."

As they kept walking, Callie blinked a bit, thinking back. After a moment, she decided to come out with some of her thoughts, because if any of her current allies deserved to know, it was Oliver. "You know... I think Lydia Tecca is the endgame to all of this."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that... our paths were always destined to cross, ever since we first met Eight. And they're still leading to her." She blinked, starting to feel a bit dizzy again. "The crystal... showed me. I-I thought it was Eight, that it was showing me, and I was confused... but now it's as clear as day. This is all about Lydia."

Oliver didn't respond as he too thought about that. He was most definitely nervous to ever confront Lydia, but... he did suppose it might happen sooner or later, if they wanted a way out of this. He stared downward.

Their conversation nonetheless died there as they eventually came up toward a medical station. It had bright holographic hospital cross up front, with an Octarian emblem in the cross' center, to announce its appearance. They stopped before it, staring up at the hologram.