Chapter 2
Caitlyn and Vi were approaching the estate just as the sun was setting on the city of progress.
The Crowne family estate was one of the largest in Piltover, resting near the northern edge of the city. Only recently had the family gained stature in Piltover through wise investments and brilliant inventions made by the heads of the estate, Caitlyn's mother and father, Richard Crowne and Margaret Crowne. The car passed through a thin horizontal beam of green light 10 feet from the gate adorned with Caitlyn's family crest which caused it to open automatically. The manor itself was gothic in design, with the usually half exposed gears and light hum of running motors that was the common look of all buildings in Piltover. Vi had always assumed her partner was wealthy, but not this wealthy. A small battalion of robotic butlers marched efficiently out of the manor, welcoming the two officers.
"Geez, think you have enough robots?" Vi said as Caitlyn exited the car. A few of the robots marched over to the car.
"Welcome home, Miss Crowne. We have detected a guest in your company, shall we see them inside?" They asked in unison.
"It's quite alright, I'll see to her care. Return to your stations. Also alert my parents to my arrival, I'm sure they're locked in their laboratory." Caitlyn ordered as she retrieved the wheelchair from the car, helping Vi into it.
"Masters Richard and Margaret are away at the moment, Miss. They are estimated to be returning in 3 days, 6 hours, and 24 minutes." The crowd of robotic assistance announced before returning to their stations to resume their daily chores.
Caitlyn's parents had always been filled with wanderlust, they would leave the girl alone for weeks on more than one occasion. She always knew that they loved her and that they were merely slaves to their nature. Vi began wheeling herself towards the mansion, looking back at Caitlyn.
"You coming? It is your place after all." Vi called out while wheeling herself.
"Right behind you." Caitlyn teased as she walked briskly past her friend.
Vi, never one to be showed up, began wheeling herself faster to pass Caitlyn. The two looked at each other for a moment before earnestly racing each other to get to the door first. Though she was crippled, Vi had more than enough arm strength to race past the Sniper. Both breathing heavily upon reaching the door, they began to giggle, before erupting into roaring laughter.
"I'm not sure how bad I should feel that, even in a chair, you can out pace me." Caitlyn spoke between laughter.
"It's all in the arms, cupcake. After I'm better, I might just let you work out with me. So uh...how exactly am I supposed to get up these steps? Don't think you're really going to be able to carry me and this chair." Vi said as she looked up the 20 imposing steps leading up the the heavy oak doors of the mansion.
"Worry not, I won't have to carry you or that chair." She said as she clapped twice. After clapping, the seemingly ancient steps rotated to form a slide down, or in this case, a ramp up to the door.
Vi looked at the newly formed ramp looked over at Caitlyn before speaking. "Uh...why do you just have a ramp ready to go?"
"It's a slide actually. My parents really aren't fans of door to door salesmen." She said as she began scaling the ramp.
"Door to door salesmen? How would they get past the gate?" Vi asked as she wheeled herself up to the door.
"They're surprisingly persistent. Why this one time, a man flew over the gate with a steam-powered jetpack." Caitlyn said as she opened the door, removing her hat and handing it to one of the Robotic Butlers standing next to the door.
"A jetpack? What the hell was he selling to need a jetpack?" Vi questioned.
"It may shock you, but he was selling Jetpacks." Caitlyn teased, gesturing to a jetpack gathering dust in the corner.
Vi opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words. She simply nodded and continued rolling behind Caitlyn.
Caitlyn showed Vi all around her home, from the labs, to the indoor green house. She showed her the dining room and the guest room where she would sleep. During the tour she noticed Vi slowly fall behind. Each time she went to push her wheels her arms would shake ever so slightly.
"How could I be so blind." Caitlyn thought to herself. "She's fresh out of the hospital, the muscle relaxers are probably still in her system."
Caitlyn stopped and waited for her friend before speaking aloud. "I'm feeling rather hungry, care for some dinner?"
"Thought you'd never ask. Believe it or not, IV doesn't really fill you up. Lead the way, partner." Vi said as she patted the back of her chair, signaling Caitlyn to push her.
The Family Dining Room was rather simple, a room adjacent to the dining hall where the Crowne family would hold feasts for select inventors who have worked with them or young inventors looking to get their name out into the world so they may come together to share ideas and show off new creations. In the Family Dining Room there was a simple oak table in the center with 3 chairs surrounding it, while the room itself was filled with the usual things one would find in a Piltover dining room such as knives, forks, and a few robotic butlers ready to serve. A large window facing the city, allowed the wandering lights of the city and the soft moonlight to flow in.
"Never really seen the city like this, all lit up. Don't get the best view from the streets, you know?" Vi asked as she stared out onto Piltover.
"I wouldn't say that, the city seems very lit up when we're chasing Jinx around." Caitlyn replied as sat down.
Vi snickered, not taking her eyes away from the window. "Guess you're right. Still, I like it better this way."
Two robotic butlers entered the room, setting down two plates covered with metal lids. The first robot was different from the others, taller, and more archaic in design. Above his slot for a mouth there was a fancy looking mustache painted on. The steam from under the lids wafted up, teasing Vi's nose.
"Damn, this smells great. What is it, Jeeves?" She asked the robot nearest her.
He seemed to spring to life, stiffening his proper posture even more before speaking and twisting at his painted mustache. "That would be succulent herbed boneless pork loin chops paired with a tangy raspberry sauceā¦[Loading]... heaven on a plate! This is a special Crowne family dish. It has been accompanied it with mashed potatoes and julienned steamed carrots."
He removed the lid exposing the beautiful dish as he set down two wine glasses and a full bottle of unopened red wine. Caitlyn enjoyed a wonderful meal with her friend, while Vi enjoyed a wonderful meal with a bottle of wine. By the end of the meal Vi had downed the entire bottle alone, making drunken jokes that were lost on Caitlyn but funny all the same.
"Well, I guess I should be thankful she passed out in her chair. She's much easier to move like this." Caitlyn thought to herself as she rolled Vi into her room, getting her out of her chair and into bed.
"Hey...thanks cupcup, 'ppreciate it." Vi slurred out as she looked up at Caitlyn.
"You're quite welcome, cupcup. Get some rest." Caitlyn said stroking her friend's cheek.
"Cait...you like me right?" Vi asked as Caitlyn was moving towards the door.
"What? Of course I do. You're my closest friend." She said, leaning on the door frame looking back at the girl in the bed.
"I like you too. You're shmart, kind of high shtrung, but you're alright." She giggled out before slipping into unconsciousness
Caitlyn laughed to herself before closing the door.
The moon was high in the sky, as a figure approached the Crowne Family gate, pulling out a small electric pulse gun. They aimed it right at the center of the gate, pulling the trigger, and releasing a bolt of electricity. The gate's motorized hum slowed to a halt as the gate creaked open. The figure moved with almost inhuman speed, quickly scaling the side of the manor and pushing open the door to the room Vi was sleeping in. Silently creeping in, the figure neared closer and closer to the sleeping Vi, reaching out to touch her. Suddenly, a small beam of red light traced the skull of the figure before striking their eye. The lamp next to an armchair in the corner illuminated revealing Caitlyn, rifle in hand pointed at Jinx, stopped dead in her tracks.
"Give me one reason not to pull this trigger." Caitlyn spoke coldly.
"Uh...so you don't wake sleepyhead here?" Jinx joked dryly.
Caitlyn lowered her gun, though still keeping it pointed the girl's leg. "Fair enough. What are you doing in my home?" Caitlyned questioned.
"Thought I'd check up on an old friend, I heard about what happened. Wait, were you watching her sleep?" Jinx retorted.
The question caught Caitlyn off guard.
"No..I was worried about an assailant creeping through the window to finish what they started." Caitlyn replied.
Jinx held up a crudely drawn get well card, depicting Vi chasing her, with Caitlyn shooting randomly in the air. Caitlyn also had stink lines coming off of her.
"Don't think a card will hurt her. Mind if I leave it here?" Jinx asked smirking, looking over at the annoyed sheriff.
"Fine. If there's nothing else, I'd thank you to take your leave." Caitlyn said gesturing towards the window.
"Aww and here I thought we could team up while fat-hands is out of commission. We'd make a good team, you shoot the bad guys, I shoot them better. Sounds pretty good if you ask me." Jinx said as she sat on the edge of the window.
Jinx and Caitlyn sat in silence for a moment before Jinx spoke again. "Take care of her, okay? I'll burn your hat if anything happens to her." Jinx threatened with a voice close to breaking.
"I'll keep her safe. I'll keep her safe...Jinx, if you hear anything about a man in a mask skulking around the city, let me know. He was there when Vi was...hurt. He may be connected." Caitlyn said.
"I haven't heard anything about any masked guys, but someone is selling fat-hands fat hands over in Zaun a week from today. I was planning on taking them and painting them pink, but I think you might get them before me. Good luck, hat lady." Jinx said before leaping from the window ledge.
Caitlyn stood up, closing the window, and leaving the room. After she returned to her room, she laid on her bed, one burning question plaguing her mind as she slipped into sleep.
"What is going on in my city?"
