Work Text:
Every so often, despite the thumping anxiety that was speeding her progress through the night and filling her ears with the sound of rushing blood, Cirrina found her eyes drawn back to the distant shining horizon where Inkopolis lay. She was too far for the sound of fireworks to reach her, but she could still see those colorful bursts of light throwing the joy of the surface into the sky. Every new color only made her more regrettably aware of the darkness in which she lurked, hidden away from the searching eyes of those guardians whose ire they had provoked.
And lurking was all she could do, unfortunately. Their allies were scattered, disabled or missing. Cirrina herself was sporting a vicious headache and a left arm which resisted any of her attempts to move it, pain blossoming from the shoulder down if she raised it above her waist. The fall from the transport had been rough, and though she didn’t know how long she was unconscious after impact, it was long enough for any survivors of the wreckage to have evacuated the crash site.
Short-range communications were still functioning - the signal saturation from the city didn’t reach this far, it seemed. Cirrina had roused from unconsciousness to find several messages from Gamma, the acting commander for the exfiltration squad after Beta’s retreat, designating a rendezvous point and demanding a status report. A quick examination of the message logs showed that only four of their allies had answered the call.
Beta had fled back into the city, beyond the range of their communicators, and four soldiers plus Delta had been incapacitated by the Splatoon. That meant that their pilot, Roche Laena, was unaccounted for - and all four soldiers had replied in the negative when asked if they had secured the target. That meant that the Inkling boy was missing too.
The wreckage was barren. No sign of Roche or Hook at all. That could mean any number of things, but unfortunately, none of them were good.
Cirrina had allowed herself ten minutes to search the surroundings from as high a vantage point as she could find before calling it in. She needed to regroup with the team. The rendezvous point was near the path that they had taken to reach the city originally, a damaged section of street which sat beneath a dilapidated housing complex. It offered shelter from prying eyes and a convenient place to either return to Forward Command or advance back towards Inkopolis, as necessary. With a groan, the thought occurred to Cirrina yet again that losing the transport meant they might be walking the distance back to Forward Command.
Gulping, she wondered what the ramifications would be of such a spectacular defeat at the hands of the Splatoon. The leadership of Octaria had granted them quite a few resources with which to accomplish the mission, and the odds had been in their favor. This failure would be difficult to justify.
Up ahead, she could see the rendezvous point. As she approached, the blazing lights of tactical visors entered her field of vision, her own visor’s enhanced HUD indicating the position of the four Octolings who had answered Gamma’s communications.
A boy and three girls, only one of whom had escaped injury. The boy was kneeling next to one of the girls with a medical box open beside him, wrapping bandages around bleeding cuts and scrapes which had no doubt been caused by their falls from the transport. One of the girls lay on her side, her visor removed, a wrap of bandages tied around her head and over one eye. The sight filled Cirrina with a clawing discomfort - eleven Octarian warriors had departed from the domes, fully equipped, and that number had been reduced to a measly six with nothing to show for it.
The sight of Gamma brought her some relief; the enormous agent was seated atop a wrecked vehicle, hunched forward with a dark expression on his face. She recognized four retrieval capsules attached to his belt, no doubt containing the splatted remains of their other allies. The man himself seemed mostly unharmed, though his uniform was soaked through with Splatoon ink and he bore several bruises on his arms and head. Agent 3 hadn’t been able to splat him, then, but he did not wear the face of a man who had won the fight.
Her approach attracted the squad’s attention; Gamma looked up towards her, brow furrowing.
[Agent Epsilon,] he called, [did you discover anything?]
Reluctantly, Cirrina shook her head. [The wreckage was abandoned and unsalvageable. Laena is unaccounted for, and the boy as well.]
With a sound that rumbled like thunder in his throat, Gamma raised a hand to massage his temples. [An embarrassment.] he growled. [Our performance was thick with costly mistakes. This is not a report I look forward to giving.]
Seeing Cirrina remain awkwardly at the perimeter of the makeshift camp, Gamma pointed towards the others. [Seat yourself.] he ordered. [D43 will tend to your injuries.]
Cirrina returned the nod that the male soldier sent her way, making her way across the broken street and taking a seat beside one of the girls. Another stab of pain made her wince - she hadn’t actually checked what injuries she had, but ideally it was nothing serious. Nothing that felt critical, at least.
[Did you catch sight of the captain?]
Hearing Gamma speak up again, the agent shook her head. [I didn’t see anyone in the canyon.] she answered. [She hasn’t checked in?]
The man scowled. [No, and she is overdue. Our window for this operation expired not long after the transport crashed, and yet I have received nothing from the captain. We will be expected to report our results soon.]
That was a little troubling. Agent Alpha’s job had been to use the confusion of the Splatfest to lure and retrieve Maya; the idea that she had been defeated by the runaway was ludicrous, and yet there was no sign of her.
The ruined vehicle’s rusted frame shrieked in protest as Gamma stood, dropping to the ground with a thud. He plodded towards Cirrina, casting a glance between her and the other soldiers. [If we do not receive word from the captain soon,] he spoke, [we will be forced to report without her. If that happens, I will require you to take a sentry position while I contact Forward Command. Are you greatly wounded?]
Again, she shook her head. [A little dazed, and my off-hand is weak, but that’s the worst of it.]
[Excellent. With any luck, the Splatoon won’t pursue us this far - the fact that we’ve seen nothing yet from them is promising, but once dawn comes - ]
[Gamma.]
The call of that ragged voice stopped the man cold. His gaze swept upward, Cirrina following suit, to find an Octarian woman standing at the end of the street, a large backpack upon her shoulders. It took a full three seconds for Cirrina to realize with a painful jolt that it was Agent Alpha.
The captain was in bad shape. Her battle armor was missing, and she was clad only in her underclothes, boots and a uniform jacket. Her exposed skin had an unhealthy pallor to it, even the parts which weren’t laced with neutralizer ink (the sight of the purple ink on her skin made Cirrina’s hearts leap uncomfortably), and her legs bore heavy bruising and scratches. Her golden eyes didn’t have their usual glow, deadened and unfocused.
Before Cirrina’s eyes, Alpha swayed on her feet, and she leaped from the ground to run towards her.
[Alpha, are you alright!?]
Alpha’s eyes passed over her only briefly before her lips curled back to show her fangs. Cirrina slowed to a faltering stop, thoughts bunching up in her head, as the elite staggered past her in the direction of her second.
[Gamma,] she repeated hoarsely, a hand pressed to her abdomen, [give me your report.]
Gamma furrowed his brow. [Ma’am, you require medical attention - ]
[Your report, Gamma!]
That furious snarl silenced both Cirrina’s twisting thoughts and Gamma’s words. She stared at Alpha, eyes wide. What happened in the city?
[...yes, ma’am.] the large Octoling answered curtly, drawing himself to his full height. [We have three soldiers wounded, and an additional four who were eliminated by the Splatoon - they are awaiting rejuvenation. The transport has been destroyed and our pilot is unaccounted for. Agent Delta was eliminated and claimed by the Splatoon, and Agent Beta retreated into the city, currently unreachable - ]
[Where is the squid child?] Alpha interrupted impatiently, her eyes sharpening further with every word out of Gamma’s mouth. Cirrina winced; when Gamma laid it out like that, this operation really did seem like nothing but an absolute failure.
When Gamma didn’t immediately respond, Alpha growled low as she came to a stop in front of the man. Gamma stood a full head taller than the captain, but despite that and her bad condition, the force of her displeasure still visibly wilted the man.
[Gamma…] she growled.
[The target is also unaccounted for.] Gamma answered with reluctance. [He was brought aboard the transport and secured, but during our retreat from the Splatoon, it was damaged and - ]
[I saw the fire!] Alpha snapped. [He was secured to the transport when it crashed!? He is unaccounted for!? Are you telling me you don’t know what happened to him!?]
Expression tightening, Gamma shook his head. [His location is unknown - as is his condition.] the man answered.
Alpha pivoted, and in one motion she hurled the large pack on her shoulders clear across the street. The night air was shattered by the sound of breaking glass as it smashed through one of the few intact windows.
[Then this was all for NOTHING!]
The captain’s infuriated scream was met with a deafening silence as the gathered Octolings stared in disbelief. Cirrina, too, could only look on in shock; to see Alpha so haggard and weak was already enough to throw her off-balance, but this reaction left her at a complete loss for words. The bated tension felt like it had stopped her hearts - she only realized she wasn’t breathing when Alpha dropped to a knee, a gasp of pain escaping her.
[Ma’am?]
With an uneasy expression on his face, Gamma regarded the fallen elite in hesitant uncertainty. Cirrina, however, moved immediately - she crossed the distance in three paces to kneel by Alpha’s side, hands poised to steady her if needed.
She swallowed, mind racing for the right thing to say, but this situation was completely beyond her. She had never seen the captain’s composure so broken.
A suffocating moment passed before, in a tone she couldn’t parse, Alpha said, [Give me your shoulder, Epsilon.]
Cirrina snapped into a ready position, and the hand that Alpha laid on her shoulder was distressingly unsteady. Using the operative to support herself, their leader rose back to her feet, drawing in gasping breaths that betrayed utter exhaustion. Distantly, she was struck by the staggering realization that Alpha had surely :walked from Inkopolis to their current position - it was practically unthinkable, given her condition, to think that the woman wasn’t mere moments from passing out.
[Gamma,] she spoke, and the man stood at attention once more, [contact Forward Command. Tell them that we have failed, and a full report will come once I’ve assessed the situation. Once you’ve done so, I will require your full report as to what happened with the Inklings.]
[I understand, captain.]
[Epsilon, D43.]
Cirina and the male soldier straightened up.
[I require medical assistance. Get me to that building.] she ordered. [I want someone on sentry duty at the top of the building at the end of the road. Shine flares at the first sign of Splatoon activity, otherwise I am not to be disturbed.]
[Understood.] the soldiers chorused.
With a grimace, Alpha met Epsilon’s gaze. [Let’s go.]
For many reasons, Cirrina’s hearts were shaking as she guided her captain across the street.
Eight hours after the transport had crashed, the captain was back on her feet. It was against D43’s instructions - her body had sustained more damage than it seemed at first glance, stressed beyond safe limits by extended usage of the heavy assault armor - but she was a very difficult woman to command, even for her acting physician. She’d rested for a few hours, allowed the man to look at her injuries and do what he could with their limited resources, and then his following instructions to rest herself had been promptly ignored.
By then, the splatted members of their squad had revived, currently in the process of rousing themselves from the haze of rejuvenation. Their leader visited with each of them, obtaining detailed reports of the events that had transpired the night before from as many different viewpoints as possible. Cirrina, too, was questioned in depth, and the sight of those yellow eyes - still burning feverishly with the captain’s willpower, despite the broken state of her body - sent nervous shivers down her back. It was clear to her that the woman was holding herself together with little more than threadbare stamina and her determination to remain in control of the situation. It was terrifying.
The captain made her report once she had been fully informed, using a field transmitter which had been retrieved from that abandoned home before their retreat. The reply came within hours - General Plokami deemed their mission a failure, and ordered them to stand by. Once it was certain that they would be neither attacked nor followed, they were to promptly return to Forward Command. A transport would retrieve them once Alpha had provided that clearance.
Although she’d expected it, to hear so explicitly that their mission was a failure made Cirrina wince. At least they wouldn’t be expected to walk, but still… their return to the domes wouldn’t be a pleasant one.
On the second day after the Inklings’ celebrations, Cirrina made her way towards the end of the street from their temporary base. Rising early had given her a beautiful view of the sun as it rose above the distant horizon, its ascent casting a brilliant glow down upon the City of Colors which lay in the distance. Since they were to be returning to Octaria soon, and another opportunity to see the sun might not present itself for some time, she wished to experience as many of these moments as she could.
Upon turning the corner, however, Cirrina slowed to a sudden stop at the sight of the captain, seated upon a large piece of rubble. The woman was stripped to the waist, but for the coating of bandages and patches that had been applied to her shoulders, chest and abdomen - she wondered if there was a single part of this Octoling which hadn’t been injured.
The captain didn’t react to her approach, wasn’t even looking at her. Instead, with a slight slouch, she’d turned herself towards the place where the sun would soon rise, statue-still.
Cirrina swallowed, tapping a finger on her Octoshot as she cautiously approached. It felt unwise to intrude on one of the rare moments of rest that their leader seemed to be giving herself, but… these last few days, Cirrina had also felt faint hints of tension coloring the captain’s actions. Of course she would be tense, having squandered military resources and utterly failed to achieve any of their objectives, and yet that troubled expression which she had worn on that night had yet to fade. It didn’t feel like vexation at their ineptitude, but more like… anxiety, or as close as she’d ever seen on the captain’s features.
She took a quick glance around. None of the others were nearby - the two of them were relatively alone. Then perhaps she’d be permitted to speak plainly?
Steeling her nerves, Cirrina cleared her throat. [Captain? Agent Alpha, ma’am?]
The reply was heavy and flat. [It’s just Lute now, Cirrina. Our agent designations have been rescinded.]
An edge of bitterness. Cirrina frowned. [But… we’re still on duty, aren’t we?]
[Only because it’s not safe to return yet. On the record, we’re no longer a retrieval team, merely a group of soldiers in need of recovery. The chain of command, technically, remains intact… but right now, we’re idle and disarrayed. I’m captain of nothing but squatters in the wreckage.]
Silence followed. Cirrina stood still, too taken aback by Lute’s words to reply - these deprecating words felt out of place, coming from such a strong-willed soldier.
That stunned quiet lasted for a moment more before Lute raised a hand to pat the rubble beside her. [Join me, will you?]
Cirrina didn’t hesitate for long. With steps quickened by a frantic, spurred sense of anxiety, she moved to the elite’s side, setting her weapon against the broken cement slab which they sat upon and removing her tactical visor. In the unfiltered light of the coming dawn, a shadow seemed to be cast over Lute’s features. She looked like she’d aged by a decade or more. Cirrina felt her jaw tremble, concern curling her stomach.
[...did you see the lights?] Lute asked softly, still not facing her. [On the day of the celebrations.]
Confusion mounting, Cirrina nevertheless nodded, the memory of those vibrant color bursts flashing through her mind. [I did. They were beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like them.]
[I’d be surprised if you had.]
Lute tapped a finger against her knee, grimacing. [I want to apologize, Cirrina.] she said. [I assigned our roles for the operation based on experience and synergy, but… even so, I feel like I did you a disservice. Not as a soldier, but as a person.]
Every word only deepened Cirrina’s surprise, and her concern. [What do you mean, ma’am?]
Frowning, Lute gave a sigh. [The Inklings’ Splatfest was amazing. There were sights and sounds that left me utterly awed. It was something so much more than a simple celebration. And yet, I assigned you to the exfiltration group, far from Inkopolis, despite the fact that you would’ve doubtlessly enjoyed the Splatfest more than any of us. Certainly more than Beta - he was more occupied with designating targets than admiring the scenery.]
An apology for… assigning her away from the festivities? Despite the fact that they were on assignment? It was an utterly, entirely baffling notion..
Cirrina grimaced, mind racing. [I’m… not sure what to say.]
No reply came. Anxiously interlacing her fingers, Cirrina glanced between Lute and the lightening sky, the blackness becoming steeped with intensifying hues of orange and red. Soon, dawn would be here - an event so common as to be trivial for the Inklings, and yet one that was novel enough to have brought Lute and herself to put time aside to witness it. A wonder of the surface world.
[Did you… enjoy the festival?]
She had no idea what had prompted her to ask. Perhaps this conversation had already grown so strange that it shorted her brain; she fully expected Lute to chastise her for asking something so pointless. Of course not, she’d say - the spectacle was amazing, but enjoying it -
[For a short time.]
Cirrina stalled.
[I tried to keep my mind on my task.] the woman continued. [But despite myself, there was something special in the air that kept drawing my eye. Yes, I indulged myself briefly in the Inklings’ cheer. It isn’t something I’m proud of.]
Another pause. Cirrina swallowed, flexing the fingers on her left hand, then shuffled a few centimeters closer to Lute. [Can you tell me about it?] she asked with manufactured confidence. [Since I wasn’t able to see it myself.]
Finally, Lute turned to face her, jaw tightening as she met Cirrina’s eyes. The younger operative felt a flitting sense of unease - maybe she’d presumed too much - which quickly subsided as the razor edge in her expression softened. For a moment, Cirrina could almost see the Inklings’ fireworks again, reflected in Lute’s eyes.
[...let me see…]
After a deep breath and a moment to silently gather her thoughts, Lute began. She told Cirrina of the sea of Inklings dressed in blue and red, divided by allegiance to differing sides and yet standing together as one whole. She described the many vendors which lined the streets to offer all sorts of toys, clothing and food. She recalled the great electronic screens which displayed ongoing battles from across the city, heated contests that drew cries of good cheer from the crowds.
The glittering lights which shone like jewels throughout, the colored beacons that illuminated the clouds, the thunderous roar of their vibrant fireworks and the ever-present, street-shaking musical performances which she felt in her soul. Cirrina listened at rapt attention, utterly spellbound, as the sun crept up over the horizon and bathed them in its glow. Though she’d spoken in flat tones at first, Lute’s voice grew more animate as she recounted the scene to Cirrina, gesturing loosely with her hands and gazing off towards her memories of the Splatfest - a celebration which amazed even the Inklings.
[She may act like she’s all business when she’s on the job, but don’t be fooled - she’s a big sis, and she can’t help acting like it. Always tells the best stories, too, if you catch her in the right mood.]
The voice which sprang to Cirrina’s mind only served to further break down the image of the invincible Agent Alpha which had dominated her impression of Lute since the moment they met. During her reconnaissance into the city, Alpha had been cold and methodical, brutal when disobeyed or impeded, and uncommunicative except for matters directly related to the task at hand. If things had been different, that would no doubt be how things stayed.
If not for a certain chance encounter during Cirrina’s recovery from her own failed mission, that is. An encounter that encouraged her to voice her concerns to that ever-intimidating elite among elites, despite a terrifying certainty that she would be stamped down for such lack of discipline. And yet, Lute had answered her seriously, and reassured her. Had called her friend.
It seemed like her reputation as a champion of the Octarian people was not due merely to her skill as a soldier. When the guise of the retrieval captain came down, somehow it revealed an individual who felt even more reliable.
At last, Lute fell silent, her tale concluded. Cirrina didn’t move, though her mind was turning endlessly on itself as she watched the older operative’s face. The moments ticked on, and the light which had illuminated Lute’s features as she spoke of the Splatfest was gradually fading, replaced by that same hollow anxiety which Cirrina had seen before. A turn towards more troubling thoughts, far away from the Splatfest, and further down.
Exhaling hard through her nose, Cirrina leaned back in her seat, staring up at the sky which was so vibrantly lit by the hues of sunrise.
‘I would be proud to call you my friend,’ Lute had said. Those words had shifted Cirrina’s view of the operative dramatically. Not so unreachable, not so detached. A woman whose friendship Cirrina would gladly accept - once she felt like she had earned it. And for that to happen, she couldn’t merely accept Lute’s aid. She needed to do something in return.
She wasn’t sure how to begin, or if this was even the right way to help. But it was all she had, and sooner or later, the two of them would return to the rest of the team. So rather than continue to fret, she took the plunge.
[I’ve met Lana, you know.]
Though already silent, it felt like Lute became even quieter at those words. Cirina’s hearts thumped nervously in her chest, and she continued hurriedly before her confidence dried up. [When your team returned me to Octaria, I spent a few days of rest in a civilian ward. She was there, on some kind of errand for her job. We talked a bit, and when I told her about my assignment, she talked - ]
[What, exactly, did you tell her?]
Lute’s voice was curt and uncompromising, slicing neatly through Cirrina’s train of thought. The younger Octoling flinched backwards, blinking in confusion as she tried to reassemble her thoughts. [I… said that I’d been assigned to capture Maya Ocellus, and failed. And that I was being reassigned to assist someone called Agent Alpha, who was taking over that assignment.]
A heavy, rumbling sigh left Lute’s body at those words. Cirrina tensed, afraid despite herself that she had made a critical error, only for her thoughts to once again go blank as a dry chuckle shook the older soldier’s shoulders. When Lute lifted her head up, a deprecating grin sat on her face.
[That little sneak.] she remarked, sounding exhausted. [So she knew the whole time. Of course she did - always too perceptive, and too lucky, for her own good.]
Cirrina stared, wide-eyed, before Lute turned to her, traces of that smile still on her face. [And?] she asked. [What did you think of my dear little sister?]
She fumbled her words clumsily, still off-guard. [She was, uh, really nice. Good spirited. Full of energy the whole time we talked. Reminded me a bit of you, I think - she had the same kind of confidence.]
[I don’t think Lana has doubted herself a single time in her life.] Lute agreed. [It’s given me endless headaches, but despite all of that, she still managed to land herself on the elite track. With a bit more work…]
Lute faltered, not even a shadow of her previous smile remaining. That too-familiar, hardened glint had returned to her eyes.
And Cirrina was pretty sure she knew why - the state that she had seen Lana in, too reminiscent of General Plokami’s terrifying transformation. A face and body which carried the unmistakable signs of something wrong, despite the untouched vigor beneath. She flexed her fingers nervously. Hurry and ask, hurry up, before I completely lose my nerve…
[What happened to her?] Cirrina asked.
[Maya Ocellus happened.] Lute replied with a voice like steel.
The older Octoling moved to rise, only to wince in pain and ease herself back down with a grunt. [You read the file.] she growled. [Ocellus was a member of the CRD, working on secret projects for General Plokami. An experiment went wrong, and my sister was reduced to… that.]
Cirrina was almost surprised that the ground in front of Lute didn’t melt from the acid dripping from her words. [You… were close to Maya, weren’t you?] she continued uneasily. [You and Lana - ]
[What is your point, Cirrina?]
She recoiled as Lute’s snapping tongue turned towards her. The shambling confidence which she’d hobbled together collapsed in an instant - the woman’s presence was utterly cowing when her wrath was provoked. Cirrina made some attempt to murmur an apology on reflex, directing her eyes away.
Her panicked silence lasted only a moment before she heard Lute sigh. [Forgive my outburst.] the elite said softly. She was looking back towards the sunrise, fingers interlocked. [I’ve been worn down by this mission, just like anyone else. Especially in the light of my failure.]
Our successes are shared, but our failures are our own.
Cirrina grimaced, dissatisfaction pushing up against the lingering fear of the older woman’s anger. [Lute, you offered me your friendship once our mission was done.] she said. [And if we’re going to be friends, then… I’d like to be able to help you somehow, if at all possible. Please confide in me - I can see that you’re troubled.]
Lute gave her a faint nod, almost as if she wasn’t even aware she was doing it. The elite swallowed, then raised a hand to her shoulder, rolling her head from side to side. Her expression was more pensive, now, and maybe a little sad.
[...we were close.]
Sentiment laced the edges of Lute’s words as she spoke, fixedly looking away from Cirrina. [Maya and Lana were incredibly so - inseparable, since the day they’d met. Sometimes it amazes me, to think how long it’s been since then. Things seemed brighter.]
Cirrina stayed silent, realizing with a start that she was holding her breath. Terror gripped her that if she made the slightest sound, Lute would stop, and this felt too important to let that happen. The weight of her words were clearly loading the woman down.
[They were in the same unit.] Lute continued. [I’d visit them sometimes, at first just to check up on Lana, but eventually it became about Maya too. She and Lana got into a frankly frustrating amount of trouble which I usually had to bail them out of, but they seemed happy together. It put me at ease, to know that Lana had someone looking out for her when I wasn’t around. And then, Maya joined the CRD.]
Her voice grew darker. [I don’t know why or how, but she was recruited specifically. All I knew is that, supposedly, she was working on something that would bring us one step closer to the surface. That was fine - she and Lana remained in the same unit, and I still visited when possible, even if it became harder once I was an active duty operative. Lana was due for an assessment soon, and Maya was excited about the progress of the research that she was doing.]
A pause. Lute shifted her weight forward, fingers laced together as she gazed towards the ground. [It’s amazing, how quickly things can change.] she murmured.
Cirrina said nothing, but many things had suddenly become clear to her. The research which Maya had performed had gone wrong, and Lana was injured by its results. Shortly after, Maya destroyed the equipment and fled the domes, leaving that important research in pieces, and Lana wounded. No wonder Lute had a vendetta against their target.
Well, former target, now.
[Well… it’s in the past now.] Lute said with a sigh, flexing her fingers. [There’s no point fixating on what can’t be changed. What matters is what comes next.]
Eying her with concern, Cirrina asked, [What does come next?]
[First, we’ll return to the domes. After that… well, it’s up to Command.] Lute replied. [We’ll do whatever we can to reach the surface. But if I have any say, I’ll be on the next assignment to retrieve Maya, assuming she’s not written off as a lost cause.]
[You want to pursue her… specifically? Even after our failures?]
The captain’s voice dipped into a low growl. [Of course. She can’t just walk free after the damage she’s done.]
[Damage to our efforts, or to Lana?]
Fear snatched her hearts into an icy grip as the words left her mouth, unbidden. Cirrina recoiled in surprise, almost too distracted by her own question to notice how Lute’s eyes sharpened into points. Almost.
[I think you’re giving yourself a little too much liberty.] the older Octoling declared venomously, rising to her feet. [If you think - ]
[Lute,] Cirrina cut in hurriedly, her mind working furiously, [I know that getting Maya back is important, but it’s also obviously important to you.]
[Of course it is!]
[But why?]
She was only digging herself deeper and she knew that, the right move would be to stop talking before she REALLY pissed the woman off, but her heart kept moving her mouth even as her brain was frantically trying to stop. She did her best not to flinch backwards from Lute’s acidic gaze as it seared her.
[It’s obvious that you feel betrayed!] she said. [You cared about these two a lot! I don’t doubt at all that you’re trying to help Octaria, but you’re also angry, so is that because Maya hurt the project and ran away or because she hurt Lana?]
Lute didn’t reply. Cirrina swallowed nervously. [I think… it’s important to know why we’re fighting.] she offered, voice unsteady. [So, the reason you’re so determined to catch Maya… is it to help our people, or to get vengeance for what happened to Lana?]
[Cirrina Irata.]
The captain seized hold of the front of Cirrina’s uniform in an eyeblink, wrenching her off of her seat before the girl could react. She raised Cirrina up higher, until only the tips of her boots scraped the ground, regarding her coolly as the younger Octoling scrabbled at her arm. It trembled with the effort, still weakened, but was still much too strong for Cirrina to break free.
[I am amazed,] Lute hissed, [that you have made it this far, yet don’t seem to understand your place. I may no longer be your immediate superior, but I still outrank you - by far. This presumptuous and injudicious attitude that you’re displaying would be grounds for reassessment, do you realize that?]
Cirrina paled, her mind turning to static. She had no answer. Why had she said anything?!
With a grunt, Lute tossed her lightly aside, and Cirrina gasped as she hit the ground. She quickly scrambled into a sitting position only to find the older Octoling now gazing at the rising sun.
[If you’d said such things to anyone else,] she said quietly, [you’d be lucky to keep your position.]
Cirrina hesitantly raised herself into a crouch, eyes wide. [...ma’am…?]
[Of course, I can’t be too harsh. After all, you’re my friend in addition to my subordinate - these things are more easily forgiven among friends.]
Unable to come up with a reply, the girl could only watch as Lute inhaled deeply, stretching her arms upward, her figure silhouetted against the sun. [You may be right.] Lute remarked. [Maybe I have let my feelings for Maya get in the way of my job. In the end, that’s why I failed, after all.]
She glanced back towards Cirrina. Her expression had lost its hostility. [You have a good heart, Cirrina. Your recklessness will land you in trouble one day, but I’m accustomed to sorting out that kind of trouble. Just try not to get carried away.]
[I’ll… do my best.] Cirrina replied, allowing an uneasy smile to cross her face. [Sorry if I overstepped, Lute. I didn’t mean to offend.]
[If you want to apologize,] Lute said, striding to Cirrina’s side and offering her a hand, [then help me scout the area today. I’m finally cleared for active duty - not that it would have stopped me.]
Cirrina couldn’t contain an amused snort, and the older Octoling’s eyes glittered. [Besides,] she added as she helped Cirrina to her feet, [I’ve promised Lana a flower, and two pairs of eyes are better than one.]