(Start in the lobby of SquidForce Tower. BRIDGETT enters holding a REEF-LUX 450. SPIDER, INKURA, SHUMI, and HIRO are waiting for him.)

Zaki-Well well well. What's that you got there?

Bridgett-It's a REEF-LUX 450.

Zaki-That was a rhetorical question.

Shumi-I co-designed it with Hiro's dad. It was originally going to fire 450 shots in one ink tank, but then we realized it would be super weak that way. The number still stuck, though.

Hiro-Are you sure you're ready for another Stringer? I mean, you could barely handle the Tri-Stringer.

Bridgett-This one's lighter, so maybe it'll be better.

Hiro-Alright, but if you want to get good at the REEF-LUX, there's one thing you have to master.

Bridgett-What's that?

Hiro-The missile spam.

(Cut to Inkblot Art Academy. SHIVER is commentating.)

Shiver-Frye was unable to make it today, so I will be covering this Turf War by myself. The team colors are yellow and purple.

(BRIDGETT, SHUMI, and HIRO are purple. SPIDER and INKURA are yellow.)

Shiver-The purple team has two Stringers, a Tri and a REEF-LUX. Let's see if that'll get 'em the win. Ready...go!

(Opening theme. The players launch onto the arena. BRIDGETT runs all the way to the left. She launches a curling bomb and then starts covering the walkway. She lands a few shots on the ledge next to her and swims up.)

Shiver-I think I've already talked about the Stringer's unexpected potential as a turfing weapon, but if you think the Tri-Stringer is fast, the REEF-LUX is even faster.

(BRIDGETT turns around and starts covering home base. She makes her way to the right. Her special finishes charging.)

Shiver-And once you've covered all that turf, you can unleash the deadly Tenta Missiles.

(BRIDGETT gets out her Tenta Missiles and aims them at the enemy side, trying to get multiple people in the reticle. She fires to the right.)

Shiver-It's such a problem that the League is considering adding a cooldown to the missiles.

(BRIDGETT swims forward and covers a bare spot to the left. Then she covers a bare spot to the right.)

Bridgett-Sheesh. Why is everyone ignoring this spot? I have to do everything around here.

(She jumps down to the last ledge before the center. She hits the bottom of the ramp. Her special finishes charging.)

Shiver-See? This is what I was talking about. She has more missiles already.

(BRIDGETT finds someone on the right landing. She takes out her Tenta Missiles and fires at them. As it turns out, the someone is INKURA, BRIDGETT realizes as she gets closer.)

Shiver-Tenta Missiles are only good at splatting people who can't run, but they're great at scrambling the other team if you aim 'em in the right spot.

(BRIDGETT aims at INKURA as she runs away. She gets one hit. INKURA turns back around and runs onto the landing. BRIDGETT keeps shooting. INKURA disappears into the corner of the landing. BRIDGETT starts covering the landing instead. She reloads and throws a curling bomb. She pulls back and hits a yellow kid with an Inkbrush.)

Bridgett-That's a hit!

(INKURA starts covering the landing again. BRIDGETT fires at her. She keeps firing and missing. That's when SPIDER runs around the corner.)

Bridgett-Uh oh.

(She starts retreating as SPIDER chases her down. She tries firing back, but he splats her.)

Shiver-Even though it's a turfing weapon, you still need to know how to aim.

(BRIDGETT respawns. She launches back onto the arena. She runs forward, inking corners as she goes.)

Shiver-Remember, flick shots for inking corners, apparently; full charges for splatting. Of course, I'm not the expert on the Stringer.

(BRIDGETT swims up a ramp and covers the statue on the last ledge.)

Shiver-Um, does that statue count toward the totals?

(BRIDGETT swims forward and starts covering the center.)

Shiver-I mean, she has 640 points in the first half, so she's not doing bad for herself.

(BRIDGETT swims to the right and aims at the Inkbrush kid in the center. She misses. And she fires. And she misses. She steps back and aims at a yellow kid with a roller.)

Bridgett-Missed.

(The roller kid notices and starts flinging at her. She backs up. The kid splats her. She respawns.)

Bridgett-Who gave rollers a vertical fling? That's not how paint rollers work.

(She launches onto the arena. She swims forward. The roller kid is still there.)

Shiver-One minute!

(BRIDGETT aims on the roller kid. They jump down and land on top of her, splatting her.)

Shiver-First team wipe in two minutes, four seconds.

(BRIDGETT respawns, as does everybody else. They launch onto the arena.)

Shiver-It looks like Boba has left purple's base, so they can at least take it back.

(BRIDGETT pulls back her string. She turns left and sees BOBA flinging at her.)

Shiver-(booth, just as surprised) Just kidding!

(BRIDGETT backs up as BOBA keeps flinging. He splats her.)

Shiver-If there's anything Boba Koro is known for, it's using a roller like a shooter and succeeding.

(BRIDGETT respawns and launches onto the arena. She covers the yellow directly in front of her. She swims forward and covers some more yellow to the right. She jumps to the second left and covers even more yellow.)

Shiver-It looks like Bridgett has this covered, no pun intended.

(BRIDGETT makes it to the third ledge and fires on the right landing. Her special finishes charging. She gets her Tenta Missiles and fires them immediately. She swims forward as INKURA Reefslides in.)

Bridgett-Oh no!

(She runs away. She stands on the ramp to the right landing firing at people.)

Shiver-10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...

(BRIDGETT swims into the center and covers some yellow.)

Shiver-3, 2, 1, GAME!

(Fade to the cafe. The gang is sitting together.)

Judd-And the winner is...Team Yellow!

Bridgett-I don't think I like the Stringers. I'm just not good with them.

Hiro-Don't say that just yet. According to these stats, you're great with the REEF-LUX. 1008 points? That's what I like to see. The problem was your opponents.

Spider-Yeah, it was.

Hiro-I've heard Boba Koro's name a couple times. He's a menace with a roller.

Spider-Oh.

Inkura-Hey, I'm looking over the coverage, and it seems like Frye wasn't there. Just Shiver.

(She, SPIDER, and SHUMI look at each other.)

Shumi/Spider/Inkura-Oh no.

(Cut to site 2 of Alterna. SHUMI, SPIDER, INKURA, and BRIDGETT are standing on a canister. SHUMI throws YANGHAI at some Fuzzy Ooze, unblocking a bridge leading to an even taller canister.)

Spider-I mean, they said they were bandits, but they never told us what they were stealing.

Shumi-Maybe as a precaution to keep us from following them?

(They walk across the bridge.)

Marie-No matter what they're stealing, Frye has to be gone for a reason. The news's attendance policies are strict.

(BRIDGETT shoots an Inkrail, leading them to the top of the canister. Before INKURA swims up, she notices FRYE's symbol painted onto the side of the canister.)

Inkura-Guys, wait.

(SHUMI swims back down and sees the symbol.)

Shumi-Yep. It's Frye, alright.

(They swim up. There's a kettle at the top.)

Spider-So are we going in or not?

Inkura-With the way things are going, I think we have to.

(BRIDGETT opens the kettle, and they dive in. Cut to the antechamber of site 9999. They appear on the center circle. SPIDER, INKURA, and SHUMI get out of the way. BRIDGETT gets equipped with a Hero Shot. They walk through the door, and it launches them to the start.)

ORCA-Fight your way to the exit.

(The agents stand on a long plank. There's a large, circle-shaped arena below them.)

Mikado-I'm getting a strong reading up ahead. It might be Keiso!

Marie-Go check it out, agents!

(They step on a launchpad. It launches them onto the arena.)

Frye-(offscreen) Not so fast!

(FRYE drops down in front of them.)

Inkura-Frye? What are you doing here?

Frye-You're pretty tough. I can tell.

Inkura-You just fell from 500 feet! Are your ankles OK?

Frye-How 'bout this? You call it quits, join my crew, and we split the treasure.

Spider-What was that? You talk fast for someone with broken ankles.

Frye-Bah. You wanna resolve this Splatlands-style, huh?

Bridgett-Maybe. I don't know.

Frye-Fine by me. DANCE BATTLE TO THE DEATH!

(She takes out a flute.)

Frye-Eels! Get your wriggly butts out here!

(She plays the flute. That's when the Octostomp comes tumbling in with a yellow face. FRYE jumps on top. A bunch of eels come out of the face.)

Bridgett-Oh, my...

Frye-HUP, HUP, HUP!

(She jumps up. The Octostomp gets on one of its corners. FRYE lands on the top corner.)

Frye-LET'S DANCE!

(The Octostomp starts spinning around while she dances on top.)

Frye-First dance: Eel Downpour!

(Yellow circles appear around the agents.)

Bridgett-Let's run!

(They run away. The eels land in the circles.)

Bridgett-Oh. Eels. That's fun. Wait. Why does she have eels?

Frye-It's a clan tradition. If you don't have at least 15 eels, what kind of Onaga are you?

(BRIDGETT shoots one of the eels. It flies back to the Octostomp.)

Spider-Oh, I see what we gotta do.

Frye-HEY! Take your hits like an eel! Don't fly back at ME!

(SPIDER shoots away another eel.)

Marie-Ooh, hey! If you beat up the masked eels, they'll hit her instead of you!

Frye-Mixin' it up!

Bridgett-Hey, have we fought this somewhere before?

Zaki-Gee, I wonder.

Frye-Ready or not, here we come!

(The Octostomp spins across the arena. They get out of the way.)

Marie-Wait a minute! Timo says that thing was stolen from Octo Canyon!

Frye-I know, right? I found it while sneaking around beneath Inkopolis. Third dance: Hundred-Eel Vision!

Bridgett-I'm getting dizzy looking at that.

(Eels start appearing from behind the Octostomp.)

Shumi-Oh, they're so cute, these little eels.

(She starts shooting them out of the air. They fly back towards FRYE. The Octostomp spins out onto its side.)

Frye-GAH! WHAT GIVES?

(BRIDGETT inks up the side and swims up. FRYE is still on top looking dizzy.)

Bridgett-C'mon, Frye. What do you got?

Mikado-Go now, Agent 8!

Bridgett-Come get it!

(She does a Splashdown, splatting FRYE. She gets launched back to the other agents. FRYE respawns on top of the Octostomp.)

Frye-Alright, alright. Not bad.

(The eels break out of the Octostomp.)

Frye-You ready to fEEL the pain?

Marie-That's not even a good pun.

(FRYE plays her flute. Then she jumps onto the Octostomp's corner again.)

Frye-Now, watch this! Second dance: Moray Whirlpool!

(The eels begin circling the bottom of the Octostomp, the circles getting bigger and bigger. SPIDER picks them off one by one.)

Frye-How dare you?

(One of the eels hits her.)

Frye-NO! DON'T HIT ME! What do you meddling kids have against us?

Spider-What do you have against us?

Frye-I'll tell you what. You un-stole what we rightfully stole!

Bridgett-I have no idea what you're talking about.

Spider-The zapfish?

Frye-YES, WE STOLE THE ZAPFISH! And we were going to do some good with them before you came along!

Inkura-I'm not sure what good can come from stealing.

(SHUMI shoots an eel on the edge of the arena.)

Shumi-Got 'em.

(The last eel hits FRYE, knocking the Octostomp on its side.)

Frye-Gwah! You threw my balance off!

Inkura-You got nothing left, girl.

(She inks up the side and swims up.)

Zaki-Make those eels squeal!

Marie-Wow, Zaki. You are fired up!

(INKURA shoots FRYE, splatting her. She gets launched back to the other agents. FRYE respawns and gets down on one knee.)

Frye-Grr! You're WAY stronger than you look, but you haven't heard the last of Deep Cut!

(She takes out a smoke bomb.)

Frye-Bet you'll miss me! Ha!

(She drops the bomb. She and the eels can be seen flying away in the explosion.)

Inkura-What the heck? You guys read me the news every morning.

(A vault in the back of the arena opens. A plank stretches out with a metal frame on it. They hop over the edge of the arena and walk up the plank to the frame.)

Marie-Oh. The reading was coming from this thing. Well, we fought for it, so nab it anyway!

(Fade to site 2. The agents are standing with MIKADO and MARIE at the pipe leading to site 3. They have the frame with them.)

Mikado-Whew! That was some great work, agents. And you got this...thing! But not Keiso.

Marie-It's treasure. At least, I think that's what it is. We can keep it at the camp for now.

(Just then, they hear a transmission from MARIE's communication device.)

Keiso-(voice-only) ...copy! Do you copy? Over! Anyone listenin'? Do you read me? Over!

Marie-It's Keiso!

Mikado-Keiso, where are you right now?

Keiso-Mari, my darling! And Mikado! You're OK!

Mikado-Yep, we're A-OK. WAIT. We should be asking if you're OK. Are you OK, Keiso?

Keiso-Oh, sure. I mean, I'm locked in some kind of dark room, which I guess ain't exactly ideal. I'll see if I can break out. Over!

Marie-Don't do anything too rash! We're tracking your signal right now and are on our way. Call us if anything happens!

(She hangs up.)

Mikado-Whew, I'm so glad he's OK. C'mon, Mari. Let's take a look at the new readings from his signal! You four go on ahead. Site 3 awaits!

(Commercial break. BRIDGETT opens the pipe leading to site 3. They dive in. Pan across the pipe as they travel through.)

Mikado-Alright, let's see what we can find out at the next site!

Marie-I just hope Keiso is safe, wherever he is...

(They come out the other end of the pipe.)

Mikado-Watch out! It's all slippery over there!

(Shot of site 3. It's covered in ice.)

Marie-Between the fake snow and lack of Keiso's signal, it seems like NOTHING is chilling here!

Mikado-Well, we should investigate just in case. We'll follow your lead, agents. Watch your step!

(They step on the first ledge, which is covered in snow.)

Spider-Snow. I'm not afraid of any snow.

Inkura-It's not even real.

(They walk further inland.)

Inkura-I just hope this ice is fake, too. I don't want to slip and go careening into some Fuzzy Ooze.

(They carefully walk onto the first slab of ice.)

Spider-Fake or not, we might just slip anyway.

(BRIDGETT points to the left.)

Bridgett-Look, a kettle!

(They slip their way to the kettle. They jump onto the ledge it's on. BRIDGETT opens the kettle.)

Bridgett-Ready to get started?

Spider-I guess so.

(They dive into the kettle. Cut to the antechamber of site 3-1. They appear on the middle circle. SHUMI, SPIDER, and INKURA step out of the way. BRIDGETT gets equipped with a Hero Shot.)

Bridgett-Wow, we're really getting in the rhythm of this.

(They step through the door. It launches them to the start.)

ORCA-Take down Octarians and climb to the goal.

Bridgett-Easy!

Spider-Bridgett, I know that you're afraid of heights, but the rest of us aren't. We can do this one for you.

Bridgett-It's not that hard. It's not that hard, dude. It's not that hard.

(They run down a ramp.)

Mikado-OK, right off the bat, we're seeing a lot of Octarians.

(They run across a walkway. There are several Troopers on the other side.)

Bridgett-I was built to kill! You know what I was built for? Killing!

Marie-Try picking them off one at a time. That'll give you a little room to breathe.

(INKURA swims up a small pillar and shoots a Trooper on another pillar as she jumps off. BRIDGETT swims to the right and takes out a Trooper on the ground. Then she gets one in the back and another on the middle pillar.)

Bridgett-I just killed three people there!

Spider-Whoa, Bridgett. Calm down.

(BRIDGETT sees enemy fire coming at her. There are four Troopers on blocks in the back. BRIDGETT jumps on a short ledge. The others catch up to her. She jumps up and shoots one of the Troopers. INKURA jumps on a block to the left. She swims up and shoots another Trooper.)

Bridgett-That's mass homicide in the span of 30 seconds.

Shumi-Should we, uh, leave this to our short-range queens?

Inkura-I'm a speedrunner, dude.

(BRIDGETT gets behind another Trooper and splats it.)

Spider-Maybe.

(BRIDGETT gets on the block that Trooper was on and splats the last one. They find a pillar with a dash track on it. They swim up. There's a Trooper at the top. SHUMI shoots it as they fall.)

Shumi-Look at me go!

Bridgett-Dude, you're insane!

Inkura-Calm down. This isn't a competition.

Zaki-You're surrounded by the three most competitive people in Inkitopia. Of course it is.

(They hop on a launchpad and launch to an octagonal platform. BRIDGETT breaks a couple boxes. Inside one is an Ink Storm.)

Mikado-Ah, you got an Ink Storm! Throw that wherever you want it to rain ink.

(BRIDGETT aims the Ink Storm at a nearby platform with more Troopers on it.)

Bridgett-Dude, how quickly are we gonna reach this goal?

(They run down the walkway leading to the platform. BRIDGETT jumps down and splats one of the Troopers. As she gets the ones on the lower level, SPIDER clears the ones on the top. There's still one in the left corner. SHUMI snipes it.)

Shumi-Gotcha.

Inkura-And that's what happens when we work together!

Spider-Inkura, you didn't do anything.

Inkura-That's what happens when you work together, Three Most Competitive People in Inkitopia.

(They swim to another pillar with a dash track on it. They swim up. There's a Trooper at the top. INKURA shoots it.)

Inkura-Dude! I'm speedrunning this like insanity!

(They hop on a launchpad and launch to another octagonal platform.)

Bridgett-Mess with me right now. What can you do?

Spider-This is kind of nauseating.

Inkura-Kinda satisfying, though.

(They run up a narrow walkway. There's a Trooper at the top.)

Bridgett-Gotcha!

(She shoots the Trooper.)

Spider-I get the feeling that's not the only one.

Mikado-Agents! Watch out!

(They turn around and see two walkways covered in Troopers.)

Spider-And there it is.

(BRIDGETT breaks another box. Inside are Tenta Missiles.)

Marie-Nice! Tenta Missiles! You could finish 'em off in one fell swoop with those!

(BRIDGETT picks up the Tenta Missiles and shoots them at the Troopers. She takes out all the Troopers as they swarm her.)

Bridgett-Dude, I'm tearing it up right now.

Zaki-You already used the Tenta Missiles. Don't you think that's overkill?

Bridgett-Get it? 'Cause we're killing them?

Zaki-Bridgett, we're not killing them.

Bridgett-Let's go!

(They run up one of the walkways. They find another pillar with a dash track on it.)

Bridgett-And away we go!

(They swim up. At the top is the goal.)

Shumi-Jackpot!

(She throws YANGHAI at the pen, aligning it, and shoves it in.)

ORCA-Mission complete!

(Fade to the Splatoon camp. SPIDER, INKURA, SHUMI, and BRIDGETT are walking in.)

Zaki-Inkura and Bridgett, you tore it up out there.

Shumi-I knew we should have left this to our short-range queens.

Spider-Also, why did you call the three of us the three most competitive people in Inkitopia when Inkura did that?

Zaki-I like to think Bridgett did a little more.

(MARIE looks up at the trailer.)

Zaki-Mari, what's going on?

Marie-I'm...gonna check in on Timo.

(She walks up the stairs to the trailer. Cut to inside the trailer. TIMO is sitting at the radio.)

Octavio-(through the radio) It blew up!

Timo-Yep. We found the thief, and she blew it up.

Octavio-This is going on your permanent record, soldier!

Timo-Just build another one! What's the problem?

(MARIE enters.)

Marie-Hey, Timo. You mind if I hang out here a while?

Octavio-That voice...you're Agent 2 of the Squidbeak Splatoon! What's the meaning of this?!

(MARIE pulls up the folding chair and sits down. She chuckles.)

Timo-Oh, her? She's my mother.

Octavio-Mother? You better explain right now!

Timo-Whoops, I better get going.

Octavio-Get going?! WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSA--

(TIMO hangs up.)

Marie-You just hung up on DJ Octavio.

Timo-(through the tablet) Yeah...

Marie-Just like a true Splatooner.

(She ruffles TIMO's tentacles.)

Marie-I'm so glad I recruited you.

(She sighs and leans back in her chair, letting her head hang all the way back.)

Timo-Is something wrong, Mother?

(MARIE sighs again, even heavier this time.)

Marie-I really thought we were going to find Keiso today. I was looking forward to seeing him again.

Timo-To be fair, we had a one in three chance of finding him.

Marie-Oh, shut up.

(TIMO looks down at his tablet.)

Timo-I get that you're anxious to see him again...

Marie-Yeah, I am, but as nice as it would be to hug him and kiss his sweet little face again, you know the real reason I want to rescue him?

Timo-No.

Marie-Megui. The boy loves his daddy, and every day, I have to deal with, "Mama, where's Daddy?" "Mama, when's Daddy gonna come home?" I wish I had a good answer for him. I can't tell him his daddy's been kidnapped and taken somewhere we don't even know. It'll break his heart. Like, I could tell him he's busy at work, but taking care of Megui is his work. I'm the one recording albums and signing autographs. If Megui doesn't have Keiso, who does he have? Well, Esta, but she wasn't genetically engineered for raising kids.

Timo-So what are you gonna do?

(MARIE lifts her head.)

Marie-Uh, rescue him, duh.

Timo-So you don't want to raise your kid?

(MARIE gasps. Then she leans forward.)

Marie-I'd be mad, but you're right. I've let my career get in the way of being an actual mother to my son. I need to get back in the swing of things especially since...uh...

Timo-What is it?

(MARIE looks at TIMO.)

Marie-Please don't tell anyone just yet, but Keiso and I are considering having a second kid.

(TIMO perks up.)

Marie-If I want to be a mother of two, I need to prove I can be a mother of one. Also, I can't get pregnant if Keiso isn't there, so let's rescue him.

Timo-I believe in you all the way, but even if you can't have that second kid...

(He scoots closer to MARIE.)

Timo-At least you have me.

Marie-Stop it, Timo.

(She pulls TIMO into an embrace.)

Marie-The last thing I need to think about is my husband dying. I'm too young to be a widow.

Timo-Don't worry. I know we'll find him. We still have two signals to investigate.

Marie-Yeah. You're right. There's still a chance to save him.

(She lets go.)

Marie-Timo, you keep deciphering that file. I'm going to see my son!

(She gets up and leaves the trailer. Cut to MARIE and KEISO's house. MARIE enters and walks down the foyer. MEGUI can be seen sitting on the living room floor playing with blocks. ESTA leans out of the kitchen.)

Esta-Mari. You're home early.

Marie-Yeah. We didn't find Keiso today, but we did get a message from him. He's locked in some kind of dark room. He says he'll try to break out, but we need to bust him out.

Esta-That makes sense. The more sides we attack from, the better chance we have of winning.

Marie-Great. Cool. How's Megui been doing?

Esta-Just fine. You'll be glad to know he behaved at preschool. He finished his snack, too.

Marie-Ooh! Awesome!

Esta-He's been asking a lot about Keiso, though. He hasn't been around here in days.

Marie-I know. It's just that I don't know how to tell him that his father's been kidnapped and locked up in a dark room and we don't know when he's gonna escape--

Megui-Mama?

(ESTA and MARIE both look at MEGUI, who is looking up at them.)

Marie-Oh no.