[A lot like my B12 post, this one can be subject to updates and rewrites
Last update: 2-26-26: adding details, 'polish', and incorporating sanitization more.]
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Read double agent here (my agent 4 after story)
'Zone Divers' as I've dubbed it is ultimately the story of two lings. An octoling named Mariana and an inkling named Pacific.
Pacific was messing around in an abandoned tram station with her turf war team. One thing lead to another and Pacific ended up crash landing in the Hadelpelagic zone of the metro. Through a passageway that had long since been closed up. When the crash happened the passageway was completely destroyed. Even if there had been a way back once, there was no longer. Luckily, she was found by Mariana. A quiet if not kind octoling who said she'd help Pacific to the emergency station and back home to the surface.
This version of the metro is more of a city system that TarTar built as a kind of Alterna substitute. Though one very much controlled by a dystopian company structure rather than scientists. First bred from the want to study the many new species cropping up. They are a sort of ant colony situation. Specifically the kind of cages that enable them to be kept as 'pets'. The company keeps many of the lights on, though lower layers can often be neglected. This also enables trade and contact with octarian and deep sea populations. Those from the highest layers can even be let out and join these forces. The trials are a presence throughout. With those who score particularly well in climbing ending up, missing, more times then some can feel comfortable with.
As with most of my stuff like this, it is baked with ingredients with canon but can and will be pretty canon divergent in many places concerning octolings especially. Their dystopian sci-fi vibe drew me in so much.
(Ya'll ready for the info dump?)
Hadelpelagic zone
The Hadelpelagic zone is the deepest of the deep sea cities. Though calling this zone part of the city is, pushing it. This zone is comprised of metal passageways with dim lights. Once used as a station, now repurposed as a holding zone. A place to push the criminals of even the pettiest nature. Locking them behind large metal doors. This is where Pacific meets B-0099. An octoling who was sanitized but not injected. Left with a single mem cake of her crime. Although Pacific is at first uneasy, she comes to learn that B-0099 at her core is a good person. Her crime of taking her progenitors life being done in self defense when said progenitor tried to remove her manually from the lineup for reasons B-0099 can't remember. This act getting her deemed unsafe for the surface and sent to the Hadelpelagic zone. Pacific decides to call her Mariana.
The space around the main exit has become something of a shanty town. Shelters built from scraps no longer used. Those with small crimes like petty theft reside here. Waiting for the system to deem them eligible to return. It is a place welcoming though weary. The only truly trusted figure being Mariana herself. Who's been there for quite some time. The odd octoling with no memories who guards the vilage from those who'd want to pillage from the desperate but non violent.
The further away you get from the door, the less safe this zone becomes. Those who will never leave this zone reside deep within the passageways, where nature and water have cracked through. Creating pools of deep dark water where they hide and wait to spring. They often forgoe trying to set up shelters. Carrying everything with them. Traveling light and attacking quick to get what they need our of pire spite they can't even remember the reason for. Often targeting trial goers trying to prove they are good enough to get out early and be useful. These are kind of sanitized that Mariana guards against with some other permanent residents with similar stories.
There are trials here, old and nearly forgotten, but still running. They have become a source of supplies for those who have the skills to complete them while down there. The points received being usable through panels near the main door. It was through these trials that Mariana built her skills in sharpshooting. As well as what enabled her to find then help Pacific when she crashed a train.
All the ink used by the lings in this zone is black. Remaining uncolored due to a lack of need for it aside from self defence and general movement through the space. Those who spend enough time saturated in this ink are permanently stained with it. Becoming the new base color over what might've been there before.
There is a clear split between those who have a chance of leaving and those who don't. Those who can and will eventually leave back to higher zones retain their whole being. Memories, will and soul. Those who don't are sanitized, made to complete the old rickety trials in order to stick around. Those who cannot keep up with their membux total lose their soul and become part of the trials. Sometimes being brought to higher zones in order to serve in those trials. Often after being heavily modded and outfitted with technological enhancements beyond what they might have already had.
The final trial boss is the first of Mariana's 'older sisters'. The second youngest, with Mariana being the youngest herself. Stationed as the final gate keeper due to an indomitable will that got her deemed unsafe for the promised land. Those who cannot stand in formation in the city cannot be trusted to follow orders outside it. Her will is so strong that full sanitization wasn't enough to fully erase her hold. With modded hypnoshades being used to make up the difference. She was very heavily modded, gaining an appearance that gave her the trial name 'Minotaur'. Wielding a giant axe like weapon that is used in many spread ink swinging attacks.
Once these shades are destroyed by Pacific and Mariana, she enters a more docile state. With the memory of a goldfish but a loyalty that gives a small glimpse into what the firey spirit once was. Although she is a great asset in combat, her sanitized nature means she can sometimes have a hard time keeping up with the other two. Just as Mariana's crime deemed her unsafe, despite being done in self defence. It was the firery and rebellious nature of Hadel that deemed her unsafe. This unfairness is what spurs Pacific to not leave either of them behind, vowing to find someone or something that can help them with their sanitization.
The abyssal zone
The first true city. Lit with blue lamps that curl and hand like plants. Bulbs swaying hypnotically in the streets. This zone is comprised of stacked buildings, creating forests of ladders, stairs and walkways. Stacked up against walls and eachother. It resembles a hive in some ways. With the denizens rarely using vehicles to traverse the streets. Most choosing instead to create elaborate routes that test their physical capabilities. Practice in a sense for the trials.
The abyssal zone is a true city even if a bit run down. Not nearly as bad as the Hadelpelagic zone. Decorative hand made fabrics are hung from walkways and homes. The light bouncing off them and causing them to glow some would say. Crystals in the rock-metal ceiling glow like stars and create a feeling of perpetual night time. It is here that the metro trials truly begin. Many of those who reside in the abyssal zone are the partially sanitized that either weren't thrown into the Hadelpelagic zone, or escaped it. Often having partial memory return. Here, mem cakes can be a sort of currency. Being traded amongst eachother in hopes of finding their own memories.
The abyssal zone is calm but not quiet. With the denizens greeting those who pass through and leave the Hadelpelagic zone with boisterous laughter and hearty pats on the back. This group of citizens is by far the most accepting and cherishing with what they have. Creatively built shops and restaurants pushing the limits of their hive like infrastructure. You'll find some of the most unique places within this zone. A comradary born from the shared loss of memory. They will share membux and the burdens of trials. All in order to keep their souls, already having lost the memories that made them.
Here Mariana and Pacific finally have a real room to stay in. Thanks to the points they were able to accumulate in the previous zone. It is also here that they really start encountering other octolings in the trials. Creating friendships and team ups that would go on to help in the journey up. Two in particular that become reoccurring team members are octolings only known as "0015" and "0018" too which Pacific does the same as she did with Mariana, calling them instead "Challenger" and "Java", nicknames the boys accept happily. Having "grown up" in the Hadelpelagic zone, Mariana experiences a lot of firsts within this zone. And Pacific couldn't be happier to share them with her. With the other three octs being close behind to enjoy the fun.
The midnight zone
The midnight zone is by far the largest of the zones and where most of the population resides. Unlike the abyssal zone, this city has much more of a normal structure. Somewhat resembling the surface city. Although the light is artifical and blue as before, there is no starry ceiling here. It's much more neon signs and 'trendy' shops. It is much louder in this zone and busy with activity. Although not as kind, it is not as snobby as higher zones. With a big focus on music and parties held in the many large open 'coral reef parks' with many a rowdy moment.
There are two main metro systems starting within this zone. One for general transport, and one for trials. Denoted by their colors. The one for trials tends to always be splattered with ink, paint and grafitti by those who travel it for trials. Making it easily recognizable. Those meant for general transport tend to be much cleaner and well kept. The transport trains are nessicary for the different layers of the city. Although not as tightly packed as the abyssal zone, it is still built up on layers of concrete pillars and large bridges. Many of which have been stickered and grafittied by local groups of octarian and deep sea teens. It is also here that many of the weapons and weapons and machinery commonly used by the octarian forces are made. With that being the main source of income for the large city.
It is also here where you are sanitized. Lead into the same buildings where they assemble weapons, machinery. Most octarians know these places well. Being outfitted with standard modifications in most cases. Meant to enhance fighting and inking capabilities. Fitted with metal rings leading directly to ink sources. These rings could connect to tubes fueling heavy weaponry. Unusable to normal forces due to their high ink use requirement. Bags of ink strewn about due to increase of use leading to increase replacement needs. This is the form the standard foot soldier receives.
Those with higher intellectual capabilties have a different approach to these augments. These technology capable peers often design and connect to complicated machinery instead of heavy weaponry. Operating what are essentially personal ink fueled mech suites. Although still soldiers, these octolings are step above in terms of offensive and defensive capabilities. As long as they can keep their ink levels high enough to operate, which can sometimes require sacrificing power for ink tanks.
Finally there are the trial bosses. These octarians are MUCH more heavily modded then their peers. Trial bosses are almost never sanitized. Often being cut offs of 'boss spawner' progenitor octolings. Grown into the role of being gate keepers and testers. Modified into true cyborgs with permanent tubing and tanks. Unique weapons suited for their battle style. These trials bosses are both testers and future surface fighters. Joining surface octarian forces as vanguards and boss kettle residents.
The progenitor that Mariana and Hadel share was one a boss spawner. Though gone now, the bosses she spawned are still around and will be encountered. Including Mariana and Hadel, there are eight.
Harpy
The trials are much harder here. Being used as training for the octoarians heading for the surface for battle. Or just trying to rank up enough to be let out on their own terms, this being what the girls are aiminh for to get Mariana out. It is much more competitive than lower zones. Creating fierce rivalries and team ups. A large board being present for the first time to see who is ranking higher and who has enough points to ascend further.
Another practice starting here are show downs. Where trial runners battle it out to raise or lower their rank. These happen in special battle zone trials. Free for all pit fights that always end with one winner getting a boost from the collective rank of competitors. It's here that an inkling agent denoted as 'Atlantic' appears. Come down to the deep sea city to find his little sister. He starts off an antagonist, not having all the information and just trying to bring his sister home to safety. Being joined by an octoling sniper named Hydra (this ling belongs to my BF). After enough time, trials and stand offs, he decides to 'clock out' join the pair in their trial runs. Half to protect his sister, half because he realizes, this is pretty damn fun. And beats routine scouting when nothing is happening. Taking Hydra along as Atlantic promised he'd get him to the surface. The pack of lings move forward together towards the final zones.
Twilight zone
The twilight zone is the smallest city in terms of size. Being only two layers tall. It is here that most of the homey feeling vanishes. This zone is by far the most proud. The place where the top brass of the system live. The city is pristine and coordinated. Everything going as it should. Most of the trial goers here are already part of the forces heading for the surface. Marching together in lines when boarding transport. Practicing their skills in buildings designed for their training. Where denizens demand respect, walking with heads held high. Clubs, parties and general gatherings tend to be much more underground. Neon lights and hidden venues catering to those who need the wind down.
Afterall, this zone is run on rigid structure and adherence to rules. The trials becoming precise and harder to complete alone. Though the rewards are also higher. This zone is the one that gives the most amount of push back on Mariana's ascension to the surface. A hadelpelagic zone octopus, going to the surface? How preposterous. With Atlantic and Pacific by her side however, the trials will not hold her back from breathing in the fresh air. Especially not when so close.
Sunlit zone
A simple one way trip up through the glass corridors. A giant elevator meant to carry squadrons to boats and helicopters. Carted off to the battles among other dome dwelling octarians. But Atlantic instead has a boat ready and waiting for them courtesy of some old Grizz co workers. Friends from his teen days who were ready and willing to get them the heck out. It is on this boat that Mariana and the her companions finally find freedom. A new life waiting for them in the city.
