The rebels rejoiced at the good news they received from all parts. The government and all the sympathisers of the robots were annihilated by dawn along with a good part of their family, which was a bonus. So the grand plan they had so long dreamt of was becoming a reality. They would be able to have the entire octopus nation together hearing what they think about robots that had fled under their pressure at the radio station meeting point.

It took them the rest of the two days to gather the surviving population onto a wide open space where they improvised a pedestal.

Finally, after a few hours waiting for the very last groups to arrive at the giant meeting, the rebel leaders grouped on the pedestal addressed the population.

'My brothers, my friends, we are here gathered on the sixty fourth anniversary of the death of Megamax in order to celebrate the deed of a great octopus who was not afraid to speak aloud was the masses were thinking. On this special day, we are to follow the path of a great mind and cut the links with the robots.'

'The robots might have indeed created our race out of the undeveloped squids that live free around the seas, but they also stole our freedom. But tell me, what is the point of being intelligent if it is to realise you are chained? How could someone be happy to live like someone else pet? Because that's what we are to our so called lords. They look at us grow but they won't let us do what we want. Sometime they slap us, sometime they give us a treat. I am telling you my brothers; those lords are not worthy to have us as their pets.'

'We've tried to get freedom but every attempt so far proved that they are still our masters. Does it mean we will let shape us like they want us to be? No! There is still a way out. And I want to show you right now how we can still get our freedom.'

He picked up something at his belt, and stared again at the huge crowd at his feet.

'To the robots, I only say go and paint yourself in sepia!'

And on those words, he promptly slit his own throat.

As he fell onto the ground, another leader kept on the speech.

'You see, my brothers, he did this for you. Exactly like Megamax, he was not afraid to speak up and to give his life for the good of his people. And this is what we want you to do now. Give up your enslaved life but make sure you free the ones around you. There must not be any octopus alive to serve the vile purpose of the robots.'

The most fanatic octopuses had already started killing at random around them. The weaker committed suicide or just waited to be taken off. Very few attacked their own family, but even fewer defended it.

As the mass suicide was getting momentum, one of the spy robots contacted its base: 'I guess you're seeing what I see, so you know I can't stop them all at once. So just for the records, could you confirm that we have mass weapons and small paralysing devices but nothing able to stop thousands of squids to kill themselves at the same time?'

While he patiently listened to the unnecessary long answer, he searched for a group he could rescue, provided it was stable and still safe but more important small enough and close to an exit. He was still unsuccessful when his contact finally stopped talking. He then simply added, 'that's what I thought. I'm returning to the base,' and swiftly turned his back to the dying squids down below.