Sitting with her legs crossed in a very lady and elegant fashion Cait sipped her cup of tea. Eyes closed she pondered on what the best movement would be. Having spotted their target things would've been very linear, relying on their abilities as a team to apprehend him. However, with the news of a second target, possibly involved with Ziggs, this new mysterious target changed everything. IF, this new figure was working with Ziggs, the plan was anything but linear; with no intel on the target they were in the dark. Vi had been of little help too, giving half answers to Cait's prior questioning as they walked back into the shop. It flustered her, but she remained composed, observing her colleague and partner obsesses on watching the doorway they had entered. She had barely drank her tea or bitten her butter croissant, very unlikely of VI to pass up a meal. Cait squinted her eyes, she couldn't read her- there was too much going on in her face ad features for her to get a firm grasp.
Vi: Stop staring at me.
Cait: I'm not staring.
Vi keeps her eyes looking out the window, she doesn't turn her head to face Cait as she replies.
Vi: You been sitting there in silence for 25 minutes. I know you, you are trying to read me…so you stare.
Cait opens her jaw about to protest but shuts it and takes a sip from her cup.
Cait: I have a right to.
Vi chuckles as Cait giggles. Her eyes widen as the small piece of information finally clicked in her head.
Cait: Wait, they haven't come out in over 25 minutes?
Vi: Yes…
Vi turns her head to look at Cait who has a stern and serious face. Though she seemed unemotional she was just as alarmed as Vi whose eyes widened as the information clicked. They both abruptly got up, Cait taking her final sip and leaving her cup as Vi swallows both her tea and croissant down. Cait simply looks at her in disapproval as she fixes her top hat and grabs her rifle, leaning on the wall behind her.
Vi: What?! We have to go.
She says this with her mouth stuffed as she bolts out the door. Cait simply sighs as she speeds behind her, muttering.
Cait: Manners.
Vi reaches the entrance of the place first, lowering her goggles as she eyes the door and revs a punch. Cait, catching up simply opens the door and steps inside, leaving a dumbfounded Vi behind.
Vi: right…
Inside they find a rather clean and orderly mechanical shop, selling from energy cells, to hextech components to screws and bolts. The clerk was nowhere to be seen as Cait and Vi carefully tread around the shop, looking.
?: May I help you?
A grave, baritone voice comes from the counter. An old yet sturdy looking man stands behind it, bald down the center of his head, white hair spiking from the sides, long nose and small glasses. Vi eyes him curiously as Cait keeps wandering the small aisles.
Vi: Have you seen a yordle come in? Like…this big?
She motions with her hands the approximate height of the yordle as if she were carrying it. The old man looks at her confused and simply shakes his head.
?: I'm sorry, I have not seen anyone match that description.
Cait: Are you sure?
Cait calls out down nearly the last aisle, her voice raised to be heard. The old man eyes Vi, nervous, attentive. Vi couldn't read people, but she always followed her gut and her gut said something was wrong.
?: If you aren't going to buy something may I ask why are two law enforcers in my shop?
Vi eyes him, her Mecha hands closing into fists.
Vi: Fancy words for someone who runs a shop.
Cait: Vi!
Cait calls her partner who, still eyeing the old man moves towards her. The old man, secretly, without moving from the counter, presses a button under the counter.
Vi reaches her partner and hisses in a low voice, Cait was staring at a wall- she was serious yet a small grin curled at the edge of her lips.
Vi: What! I was trying…
Cait: Look at this wall.
Cait responds equally in a low voice, urging Vi to inspect it. Vi, breaking down walls, doors, trees, thickets…pretty much everything by now, knew about constitution. The wall felt a miss, it's much more matte color was noticeable to the keen eyes like Cait and for a demolitionist like Vi, it was obvious it wasn't made of the same material. Moving Cait with one had around her waist to stand behind her Vi readies a single punch which blows open the high security steel bolted door. It crashes with a loud metallic bang against the wall behind it, incrusting itself by the force…a series of steps descend to the right immediately. Cait pats Vi on the shoulder, once, a secret sign signaling her to "lead the way and be careful". Vi smiles as she walks down the steps, sideways, alert, one hand touching Cait's back who walked backwards, covering the rear. They didn't need to talk, to watch each other, after the various missions they had made together they simply trusted each other, blindly and completely. As they reached the bottom a large open workshop spread before them, blue and white light shining and stuttering, illuminating tables and crates filled with gear, instruments…explosives. Vi stops and opens her head to stop Cait too, who simply takes a deep breath and turns around, stepping beside Vi, her top hat at eye level with Vi. Noticing this Vi tries to choke a laugh, Cait digs an elbow into her stomach- with little success do to the body armor. Vi covers her mouth as she eyes quickly behind her and moves forward inspecting their discovery.
A mother load…tons and tons of gear made for creating bombs and explosives. Cait and Vi walked down the aisles, unimpressed initially. Piltover was always treading borderline anarchy and science…some even questioning its difference from Zaun. The difference however went deeper that anyone could understand…culture and security. With Cait, Vi and the League at the frontline, dealing with all the dangers and perils, the city was always safe and the people, despite the once chaotic past, lived a life of order, honesty and simpleness. Anarchic factions, terrorist acts, dangerous gangs, etc. were all far gone by now, foot notes of the past. Thus, the city was quite the confident one in allowing both scientists and its people to have public access to every single level of technology: from household to military. Thus, the girls were unalarmed by the gear…initially. Ziggs was an explosives fanatic…hunting them down was just bound to bring them to such a place…but it wasn't only Ziggs now. As they walked further in the explosions changed for spray paint, welding parts, military chips and hextech circuitry or power cells. The simple equipment turned drastically to military intel and target acquisition devices…something both girls were experienced in…their own gear had such devices.
Cait: How probable would it be…
Vi: None…Ziggs doesn't like… "easy" stuff… he wouldn't use these devices…this isn't for him.
Cait: But it IS his.
Vi: But no for…him…
Vi stops as she looks at one of the last tables, sparkling on it, among the junk was a gun. As the girls approached it, Vi with dread and Cait with curiosity they noticed it wasn't a normal gun. Small, compact a tesla coiled hextech barrel, designed and crafted for massive propulsion along with elemental damage. A custom grip, small hand, slim fingers; light of weight, single shot, fusion and particle acceleration created a bolt of lightning following a heat tempered bullet. Cait lifts it, the gun pulsed in her hand.
Cait: Quite the extravagant device. Never thought Ziggs would be…
Vi: It's not Ziggs'.
Cait eyes her partner who kept a fair distance from the gun, she was sweating, her eyes filled with remorse and horror.
Cait: Vi?
Vi begins to look around behind her, her eyes and mind racing. "Could it be? It's impossible. She had died. Did she? There was no body. But the Fire consumed it all, she never found her while taking survivors." As her mind raced, Cait slowly walked to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. Vi swerves in alarm, noticing Cait looking at her with troubled eyes, the speed of her swerve causing a small gust that sways her silky smooth long hair to sway under her chin. She breaths heavily.
Vi: Sorry.
Cait: What's wrong?
Vi covers her eyes, grabbing her head in frustration and trying to calm herself, squatting to do so. Cait kneels beside her placing a soft, delicate hand over her massive Mecha hands.
Cait: Vi…hey, what's wrong.
Cait softens her tone, giving it a sweet and warm ring, vulnerable, understanding…an emotional side Vi rarely saw. Vi sighs, letting her hands fall at her sides as Cait hugs her head, resting it on her chest. Vi chuckles at the soft sensation, grabbing her waist and getting up, eyes closed.
Vi: I'm better…it's just… I know who's gun is that…
Cait: Whose?
Cait asks her, inquisitively despite having Vi's hands around her skinny waist and her hands caressing her thick, short and androgynous pink hair. She didn't mind the proximity, she trusted her, needed her and couldn't stand her partner breaking down on a mission…she needed to know what got under her skin. Yet, before Vi could answer the lights went out, followed by a maniacal girly giggle.
Cait: On alert.
Vi: Already on it.
Goggles on (Vi) and her top hat dropping a single monocle (Cait), the girl's equipment made them suitable to fight any situation as night vision activated on these visual aids. Scanning the place they stand in position as habit and trust made them to; Cait taking a knee, using her gun's also enhanced visuals to scan for heat signatures, Vi over her, as a shield and guardian alert and searching for the slightest movement…even a shadow. The gun on the table the only light source, emitting a dim eerie glow, barely enough to even light the table where it lay. The girls grow tense as the silence and darkness settles in.
Cait: 3!
A shot is fired and Vi swerves her head to look in the direction an agile and quick shadow moves and ducks the shot…the gun was gone. Vi moves to charge but her gut and reflexes make her stop, the figure had stopped and turned to their direction. Vi takes a knee before Cait and lifts her hands up, she becomes a shield and more so as she slams her Mecha Hands together she trigures a Hex Barrier around her to absorb damage and shots better. A good call as a barrage of minigun fire comes their way, a maniacal laugh in the background, suffocates by the bullets and firing of the gun. Vi clenches her teeth and endures it as Cait moves swiftly behind her and over her shoulder, firing at their attacker. The shots miss but pass too close as the target curses and runs away. Cait bolts behind but Vi's alert ears hear a loud and distinct metallic click. She grabs Cait's shoulders, pulling her close and lifting her as she bursts through the ceiling and into the back part of the market, explosions trigger behind and below them causing Vi to sprint fast with Cait in her arms as the ground crumbles below them. Safe as they could they watch secondary and series of explosions detonate behind, the stone street and smaller buildings taking damage by the commotion. They both grimace as the damage was considerable…they hated recoil damage.
Vi: You ok?
Cait: Yeah…
She gets up, dusting her dress off and smiles at her, a small and barely noticeable smile, her eyes saying more than her expression.
Cait: Thanks
Vi giggles and rubs the back of her neck, bashful at the praise but their peace is short lived as she quickly raises a single arm up to receive a missile. She yelps at the hit and pain as her Mecha hand is left scalding red with a bit of molten metal at the tips. Cait quickly moves towards her but Vi motions with her free hand to stay away, in the shadows. Worried, Cait understands and hides near the wall. Vi lifts her gaze at the rooftop of the building at the other side of the road. A hooded slender figure with a missile launcher over its left shoulder stood, gazing at her…imposing. The hood looked tattered and the launcher hand made, blue in color with welded parts together…it seemed to be getting some sort of design forged into it…but it was too early to guess. A Pink minigun with sawed off tips was strapped to the figure's back. For such a slim outline, it was carrying quite the load. Vi grins as she eases herself up. The figure begins to laugh, maniacally and girlishly…demented.
Vi: I know that laugh.
Vi bellows at the figure which immediately stops and fires another rocket at her. Ready, this time Vi blocks the with her guard. She eyes the figure who stands looking down at her, one leg, white, bare, with a military style boot on a chimey, her elbow, bare and white with a nyan, light blue tattoo on it resting on her knee and holding her hidden face. Vi eyes her, skeptically, her heart racing…familiar yet different. She remains calm, exercising breathing as she rings out to her.
Vi: Interesting. A Photon missile launcher, shoots energy condensed shots, good to render armors and with a decent range. You must be smart to make something like that.
Cait heres the info and immediately dashes behind the building. Vi had given her the answer, not praising their assailant. She moved quickly and quietly she had to get a shot on her, get rid of that weapon.
?: HA! Why not just tell me where your partner is hiding?
Vi: She isn't hiding.
A shot resonates as the hooded figure barely arches back to avoid the bullet but it wasn't aimed at her. The shot tips throught the metal of the missile launcher, leaving a jagged edge and a dysfunctional mechanism which sparks. Cait reloads her gun, poised and calm as one threat was down, Vi grins in pride.
Vi: Nice job cupcake.
Cait: Don't call me that.
Vi giggles at her teasing as Cait shakes her head and sighs, turning her head once more toward the mystery person. It was barely in time as the figure had pulled the gun she had retrieved and was about to fire it in her direction. Cait jumps from her spot, aiming to take cover behind the edge of the rooftop but the shot was more powerful than expected. It bored and rips the roof Cait was standing, she has little to worry as she scurries to move, avoiding the surely next attack. Indeed, a second shot was coming, but Vi had launched herself up to the figure's roof and launched a punch, missing and smashing the roof down with her punch. Each standing on opposite ends of the same roof, separated by the destroyed space, Vi stands on guard.
?: UGH! You ruin my fun! Is she that important to you?! I thought you had no friends, nor allies…not even family!
The figure spits, Vi stands her ground though her words had hit her deep.
Vi: I don't know who you are, but whoever you think I am, you are wrong.
The hooded figure laughs, low and amused.
?: Of course I know you… Vi Armstrong.
She laughs, maniacally, hunching do to it. Vi slowly eases her way for a better position, she looks over at the other roof where Cait moves slowly to get a good shot, she nods her head once…she was ok. Vi sighs in relief, but it quickly fades as she turns to the hooded person…the minigun revving at her.
?: SURPRISE!
The minigun revs up a flurry of shots which Vi is barely able to lifts her arms. She's soon enveloped by the League's insurance shield, trying to diminish the damage received but bullets still graze her skin and armor, she grimaces at the stings. Cait, moves quick at the beating her partner receives firing consecutive shots at their attacker. The shots pierce the fabric, but don't hit skin. Annoyed, the figure swerves the minigun with ease at Cait who begins to run down the roofs with the trail of shots behind her. The hooded figure follows and both are soon caught in fast paced combat of accuracy and luck as shots are interchanged. Minigun against a rifle would be a one sided match but Cait's determination and the barrier the League provides its champions work wonders in keeping her in the race. Hoping roofs and moving between chimneys their battle rages on.
Vi is left behind, regaining her strength. After a few breath she eases herself up and notices both girls. She had deducted that much. The figure was slim…too skinny to be a man, the voice, somewhat distorted must have been surely the effects of some voice alteration mechanism. Still, she did not know who it was…not exactly. God…she hoped it wasn't her worst fear. Cait pranced and danced on her boots, quick and nimble yet precise and with always a sure footing for her precise shots. The other was erratic, flexible and clumsy, the minigun compensated for all her unnecessary movement, sending barrages of bullets wherever it was aimed. Though individual skill was miles apart, the weapons were too and seeing Cait's barrier dwindle made Vi soon sprint towards the enemy.
The tattered hood was beginning to give way to the figure hiding in it, Cait's eyes could see her. Slightly flat chested, skinny yet fit, rather…indecent attire. The barrier shatters before her eyes as a barrage of shots hit her, bullets begin to graze her skin and as she expected a sure hit, proccing the emergency teleport of the League, she closes her eyes. However, such event never came as Vi had managed to come up behind the hooded figure and shot a fist at her. Flexible and highly reflexive the figure ducks the punch, but Vi manages to grab the hood with her other hand.
Vi: Gotcha!
However, right under her, the figure pulls the trigger of the electric gun, hitting Vi square on the chest, her barrier also shattering as she grimaces. Firm on her grip however the hood is finally stripped off the figure as Vi topples to the stone pavement below, Cait gasping for air and tending her wounds behind a chimney at the other side of the rooftops. Without a hood the figure's long blue, braided hair swayed in the wind, a girlish and childish bang covering her forehead. She seemed older, not childish, over 18, but no older than either Vi or Cait. Her boney figure was peculiarly fit and her uncommon flexibility and mobility were given by her lack of attire. A leather black and pink bikini top to cover her breasts and short, tattered shorts which apparently didn't fit her as the fly was open, revealing her underwear and it still stuck tight to her thighs. Around her neck was a sparking, damaged device…a voice modifier. She begins to laugh maniacally a girlish and high pitched laugh as she strips the mechanism from her neck.
?: WELL! That was fun. But I expected more from you two.
Vi slowly gets up and straightens up, pained by the prior shot, to get a good luck at her. Her face horrifies as she takes a step back, faltering.
Vi: No.
?: Yes.
Vi: It's imposible.
?: In the flesh!
Vi: Sis?
Cait peers over the brick structure she was hiding to take a better look, the last comment had completely baffled her. The figure laugh, as she flicks her bright blue bang, her blood red eyes intense and menacing.
?: You lost the right to call me that a long time ago…sis.
She revs her minigun and fires a barrage at Vi who barely managed to lift her mecha hands and take a knee to protect her body. The bullets graze and chip away, her jaw clenching, hoping to endure the onslaught. A loud shot is heard and the bullets cease. Vi lowers her hands, smoking and exhausted. On the rooftop, the girl stands looking at her damaged minigun, a clean shot had perforated the internal mechanism. She glares at Caitlyn who stood, aiming at her with her rifle.
Cait: Stand down.
Her tone is firm. The girl snickers and lifts her hands up as she bolts down the line of rooftops. She didn't make it long however as a net tangles around her ankles and she falls on the roof, rolling down to the pavement. She grimaces as Cait slowly hops down and struts, somewhat pained toward her.
?: This isn't over yet.
Cait: It is.
?: Sure?
The girl fire the electric gun at her, it had been hidden under her minigun, Cait had not perceived it. As she closes her eyes once more she lets out a relieved sigh as a metallic clang bells before her. Vi, hurt but still standing had taken the hit unto her hand. She shakes it in pain.
Vi: Jinx! That's enough!
Jinx: And who are you to tell me what to do?!
Vi: Your older sister!
Jinx: You abandoned me!
Vi opens her mouth but nothing comes out. She stares at Jinx…she was so different. She was once a frail child, defenseless, just wanting to have fun. Despite their poverty and life in the slums Vi had always provided for them, she was her happiness and her smile filled her heart. As they grew things always kept the same, except for a bit of growth. Vi, always taller, was the tech geek. Hand crafted spying and hacking devices were her thing as she took on harder jobs to give them a better life. Jinx, however, learned the merchant trade. To be exact, she was an arms dealer. Her delicate feature and sweet face made her land clients with ease…but it was her cunning mind which made them stay. Still, at the end of the day, they had each other and helped each other. But that was before. The girl standing before her, tattoed, tall, strong, nimble and belligerent was a completely different person she could not recognize.
Jinx: You never came back, Vi. You left me in the slums. But no…you went against your own rules…became a dirty, worthless lapdog of this bitch.
Cait glares at her, their eyes burn at each other.
Jinx: You forgot what it meant to be from the slums…what he fought, what it meant to survive, to have nothing. Not to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You became one of them now…
Jinx she begins to laugh, her eyes red and demented.
Jinx: But I'll make you remember…I'll make you…
A series of explosions detonate around them and smoke begins to cover the three girls. As Cait and Vi cough they hear a rope and the distinct laughter. Vi, alarmed punches the ground causing a shockwave that disperses the smoke clouds. As the clouds give way, they see Jinx, unbound and waving at them as she is elevated quickly into a zeppelin.
Cait: How did she….!?
Vi: She learned.
Vi looks at her in awe, amazed at what her little sister had managed y herself.
Jinx: See you soon girls! Catch me if you can!
Her scream grow distant as the zeppelin veers right and begins to fly off. The girls sigh and look at each other. Bruised, bullets cuts scattered, tattered clothes, Cait with soot and dirt smeered on her cheek and Vi's mecha hands really battered. They giggle and shake their heads, averting the gaze from one another in shame. A sigh of admiration interrupts them.
?: She's amazing, isn't she? Sorry about the commo…
Ziggs had just appeared between them and without a single warning received a solid punch across the face. Vi stood amazed and shocked as Cait rubbed her hand.
Cait: What?
Vi: Dunno, what happened to being a lady and finesse and your fancy words?
Cait: Shut up!
She pushes her playfully but both grimace as the bruises and cuts took their toll.
Ziggs: That hu…ACKK!
As Ziggs raised his voice to talk Vi stomps him and makes him squeal. Cait chuckles and takes a seat, leg crossed on the stone pavement. The Outer Rim of the Market was battered and damaged, recoil had been off the charts. As sirens blair in the distance and a couple of patrol drones fly in like little bees to report and scout out the destruction Cait waves at them, glad that support was coming. A soft sigh sits beside her followed by yet another squeal and the sound of a squeaky toy.
Cait: Don't abuse of him.
Vi: What? He's her accomplice and we need information. She apparently learned.
Cait: learned?
Vi: Slum Rules #1: Know your Foe.
Cait: That's basic!
Vi: Hey! Look on it as a couple years ago when crime and discord reigned and information could only be gotten by spying, stealing or black markets.
Scoffs and raises her hands in protest.
Cait: Fine, but one rule as basic as that isn't hard to learn.
Vi: No…but the others are…you won't like them.
Cait removes her battered top hat and frowns, pouting.
Cait: try me.
Vi: Rule # 2- Strike his his strength.
Cait looks at her questioningly.
Cait: that doesn't make sense.
Vi: It does…break morale…make believe their best attribute isn't flawless, that's not perfect…that can be broken.
Cait: But what does… oh…
Vi: Yeap…
Cait looks at her beloved city, looming before them as ambulances, Heimer and the League official walk towards them at their backs. Her usually serene face grew worried, Vi putting an arm around her. It was reassuring, but not that much. Who was she? Sister? What was their story? What was it that happened?! She had so many questions, and yet…so little time. War was coming…it was what the blue haired girl wanted…and she would deliver. She was mad…mad beyond reason and motif. Or was her motif to teach Vi a lesson? By destroying the city? It didn't make sense. Cait's mind burned in chaos, she was trying to understand what was going on. She closes her eyes and pushes Vi away, not playfully but firmly, taking her arm off her.
Vi: Cupcake?
Cait: Don't call me that. This is serious. What happened between you and her?
Vi: Who?
Cait: Don't play stupid Vi.
Vi: Ok, ok. But…nothing…happened.
Cait: Vi!
Vi: I cant talk about it.
She stands up and Cait follows, her legs buckling, making her fall down.
Vi: Hey.
Cait: NO! Don't touch me. You're my partner…I need to know about her. Who is she, Vi?
Vi: My sister.
Cait: Give me more than that?!
Vi: I… can't!
Cait fires up at Vi's lack of answers. She was hiding something…guarding up. It was the same girl she had met a couple years back. Insecure, untrusting, afraid, alone…she thought she had changed. Cait moves towards her, she thought about hugging her, but the ruckus and noise behind them, especially medics moving towards them kept her put. She places a hand on Vi's back.
Cait: You're my partner.
Vi: I know.
Cait: We promised…
Vi: I know.
Cait: Vi…
Vi: I'm sorry.
Tears stream down her cheeks, her heart was clamped do to today's events. Her sister…her only family, was still alive. But…she hated her. Why? It killed her. She wanted her sister back…she had thought her dead all these years. Vi's heart was a pit. She needed answers. She looked at Cait, she loved her partner…but she couldn't share this with her…it was her fault…her problem… a family problem. Swallowing the knot on her throat and closing her eyes, Vi turns and moves past Cait.
Vi: I need to do something.
Cait: Vi!
Vi: Don't wait up love!
Cait: VI!
Vi dashed past everyone and even jumps over cars as she begins to speed down the streets, biting down her pain. She would go back to where it all happened. She would try to find her…she needed it…to see her…her sister.
"Jinx…what happened to you?"