Blitzcrank's lenses scanned the young human before him. His mouth was slightly agape, his hair dark, and his eyes shone like polished silver. The sensors on Blitzcrank's vital signs monitor blipped inside his machine mind.
TARGET'S HEART RATE INCREASED. SCANNING. NO SIGNS OF DISTRESS.
"I can't believe this," the boy gasped, "this must be a dream. Wow! Blitzcrank. I'm a huge fan."
"Greetings Subject N-12, Renatus," Blitzcrank said.
"And you already know my name," Ren mused in a giddy voice.
"I was permitted to review your files before meeting you."
"I hope those notes said mostly good things."
Blitzcrank searched his word bank for a suitable response.
"The notes about your progress were positive and the ones about your augmentation were more so. However, little was written about Viktor's opinion on your personality."
"Of course there was," Ren chuckled, "but I wouldn't believe that Viktor would invite you here just to meet my charming personality."
"That is correct," Viktor cut in, "I did not. He is here to help with your education. It will be beneficial for you to train with a new partner and later, I will instruct you on new maintenance and repair techniques. I would consider your instruction incomplete if you did not know how to repair a steam golem."
Ren's head whipped back around to Blitzcrank.
"You mean you're letting me work on you as well? Now I know I'm dreaming."
"I can assure you that you are not asleep," Blitzcrank said, "my scans have not found any of the typical signs of sleep on your person."
"Crystal."
"Enough talk," Viktor said, "N-12, I assume you have noticed all the debris I had brought into the gym. Blitzcrank wants to teach you about using your environment to your advantage."
Ren glanced about the room. He had noticed the barrels, scrap, old boxes that had been strewn about when he had entered the room.
"I kinda figured that those had something to do with today's lesson. I can't imagine you cluttering up your place just for fun. I think I'll breeze through this one. You don't survive on the streets without knowing how to use them to your advantage."
"I am aware," Blitzcrank responded, "I have also been surviving on the streets and I have been doing it more recently than you have. You have been living here since your upgrade. You need to reprogram your thoughts to adjust to your new limb and its abilities. Observe."
There was a high pitched whistle, and the clanking of gears kicked in. Blitzcrank's outer shell trembled slightly from his machinery whirling inside him before a pale glow began to emanate from his joints. Static soon crackled over his body and within seconds, sparks of it began to arc off his body towards other scraps of metal. Blitzcrank continued to speak over the crackling.
"In a metal rich environment, this static is an effective deterrent for most enemies. The flashes are intimidating and if the hostile still approach, the arcs can leap onto their weapons. But there is more that I can do."
A great rush a steam gushed from Blitzcrank's right arm as his hand shot outwards and grabbed a metal drum. He held it for a moment and it too became electrically charged. No sooner than that, and he threw it, sending the sparking object crashing against the far wall.
"Please stand back," Blitzcrank said.
Viktor stood and motioned for Ren to follow him. Once Blitzcrank calculated that both were safely out of the way, he discharged all the static from his body in a shower of glowing streamers.
"As you were able to observe," Blitzcrank continued, "I was able to use this debris to my advantage. Even if I were not charged, I am able to still grab and throw objects or use my arm to rappel down the side of Zaun. In your records, N-12 Renatus, you were noted as already being capable of advanced mobility with your leg. Now I want to observe you attacking me from there."
"Easily," Ren boasted with a casual stretch.
The boy paced for a moment, gaging the distance between them. Once he was satisfied with an angle, he clenched his muscles and prepared a charge in his augmentation. He released it, launching with a leap towards Blitzcrank.
"Incorrect," the golem stated.
The whistle of steam hissed from Blitzcrank as his arm shot out and grabbed Ren mid jump. Within a second, Ren was pulled before Blitzcrank. He hardly had time to grunt out in surprise before the golem's other massive hand swung around and gently tapped him on the head.
"Bop."
"What was that for?" Ren demanded.
"Perhaps you misunderstood the purpose of this lesson. I already stated that you were capable of moving about with your augmentation. I do not need a demonstration of this. I wanted you to attack me using the debris. Viktor, a line would be appreciated."
Viktor nodded and commanded his third arm to spring to life. With its angry red laser, it singed a line down the center of the training area.
"Now," Blitzcrank continued, "you will attack me again but without crossing this line. Are we at an understanding now?"
"I understand," Ren said, rubbing his sure to be bruised arms, "crystal."
Ren stumbled back over to his side of the line and reassessed the situation. He couldn't cross the line, nor could his augmentation spit flames far enough to Blitzcrank either. That left just one option. He went over to one of the barrels and aligned himself with it. He had never particularly enjoyed the times he had been twisted into playing soccer with the younger kids, but now he was happy to know that if need be, he could be a decent striker. His augmentation hummed as it began to charge and then, BAM, with a swift kick it sent the barrel tumbling. The projectile spun through the air before crashing not as close to Blitzcrank as Ren was hoping, but the golem seemed pleased anyways.
"I knew I was correct in assuming you were clever," Blitzcrank said, steam piping from him, "I know Viktor will have you practice until perfection later, but my time is limited. Find another way."
Ren walked over to an old crate.
"Does launching this at you count as another," he asked.
"It would," Blitzcrank answered, "since you have not attempted to attack me with it yet."
"I don't like how you said attempt," Ren mumbled as he prepared another kick.
As he immediately learned, attempt was an accurate word to describe what happened. The crate smashed into pieces, some of them smoking. Ren stomped down on one that had begun to burn when an idea crossed his mind.
"You'll have to forgive me," he said, "but my throwing isn't nearly as good as my kicking."
He picked up the larger splinter he could find and held it against the bottom of his foot. A minimal burst of heat from his augmentation, and the wood began to burn. Ren held it for a moment to make sure that the wood was alight before throwing it across the line. Again it landed further from Blitzcrank than he wanted and again, Blitzcrank didn't seem bothered.
"One more," Blitzcrank ordered.
"One more, one more. I think I can do that and it won't be just kicking another object at you," Ren boasted.
He looked around his side of the line. There were plenty of objects to kick and more things to ignite, but he wanted to do something impressive Blitzcrank. At last his sight came to rest on a length of chain. He stompped down on it with his augmented leg and began to charge it. Heat began glow from under his foot, but he held the charge for as long as he knew he would be able to maintain his balance afterward. He released it. The chain skirted across the floor like a bright red snake. Ren looked pleased at the heated metal, but made no motion to pick it up.
"Um," he sighed, "I guess I didn't really plan this though. It went much better in my head. You see, only part of it was supposed to heat up so that I could still pick it up and have a wicked fire chain. I'm willing to try again but, you know, I need this to cool down first."
"There is no need," Blitzcrank said, "I am satisfied."
"Are you," Viktor asked, "or are you more eager to receive your maintenance?"
"I think at a more complex level than other golems. I am able to experience two feelings at once."
"If that is how you wish to spend your time, I will not argue with you."
Blitzcrank followed Viktor over to where he set up his tools and beckoned for Ren to follow them. Laid across the table were Viktor's best tools, I sight Ren never thought he would see outside the scientist's personal lab. A steady stream of steam was released from Blitzcrank as he allowed his parts to slow or stop. Viktor opened Blitzcrank's chest with tender care. Inside was a mechanized wonder.
Gears, springs, pipes, and wires were all woven wonderfully around each other. Though everything was placed with a method purpose in mind, the shines and shapes of Blitzcrank's parts were a work of art. His boiler was front and center and scorched black from constant heating. From it sprouted pipes that all went to different parts of his body.
"It's like his heart," Ren remarked.
"No," Viktor corrected, "this is his heart." He pointed to iron clad sphere directly above the boiler. "His heart is golden."
"I think that's the nicest thing I have ever heard you say about anything."
"He is not being kind," Blitzcrank corrected, "my heart is literally made of gold."
Viktor opened up the iron case, revealing a golden core wrapped in wire. It glowed with a warm light, and Ren could almost swear that he heard a beat from within.
"This is what provides the energy to boil the water," Viktor explained, "all other steam golems use a chemical reaction to create heat and those chemicals must be refilled regularly. Blitzcrank alone has this golden heart. It never needs to be recharged."
"That sounds impossible," Ren blurt out, "I know you're a genius but machines need fuel and even the best hextech devices need a mage to for them to keep their spark."
Ren felt the piecing gaze of Viktor strike out from under his mask.
"It's not hextech, is it?"
"Maybe I will answer you some day," was Viktor's only answer before he sealed the heart again, "today, you will learn how to provide basic care."
Viktor went on to explain the precise purpose of each tool, where each pipe was connected, and what the correct volume of chemicals for each tank should be. He even allowed Ren to refill the water tank, albeit with strict guidance, because he believed that it was the most basic of tasks anyone working with steam golems should be able to accomplish. There was one complication to their task, and it came in the form of little white clumps of fur.
"You allowed the poros inside of you," Viktor chastised, "your auxiliary storage compartment is intended for small objects, not living creatures. The incident with the poros also occurred over a week ago. You have been neglecting your hygiene. I am disappointed."
"I apologize, but I was unable to resist. They make delightful noises and are not bothered by the fact that I am a golem. I was reluctant to part with them."
Viktor had only let out a low sigh as he began to pluck the tiny tufts of fur out of Blitzcrank with his longest pair of scissors. After that task was completed, and Ren proclaimed that they had enough fur to recreate a miniature poro, Viktor closed Blitzcrank back up. His boiler began to rumble and within seconds, steam once again began to course through him. Blitzcrank gave his arms a satisfactory stretch.
"Thank you," he said, "my systems are now operating at 90-100% efficiency. As you humans would say, I feel amazing."
"You do not need to mimic human expression for me, Blitzcrank," Viktor comment.
"I think nice though," Ren added, "it's what makes you stand out as a golem more than your strange gold heart thing."
"Affirmative," Blitzcrank said, "I acknowledge and appreciate both comments."
The three walked to the entrance of the old factory. A cool gust of evening air brushed past them as they opened the door. Blitzcrank stepped outside and let out a long sigh of steam before turning back to the others.
"Today has been stimulating, and I thank you for it," he said.
"If you are ever in need of repairs, do not hesitate to make an appointment," Viktor replied.
"Or," Ren added, "if you ever want to train or hang out. I could even draw a picture of you. Did the Doc's notes mention that talent of mine?"
Blitzcrank paused for a moment. There was one illustration in Ren's file, but after he had seen it, Viktor gave him explicit orders to never speak of it.
"The notes mentioned that you have been learning to illustrate schematics," was the safer response Blitzcrank gave, "if you desire, we can illustrate the mechanisms in my arms. They are fascinating."
"That would be wicked."
Blitzcrank waved his farewells and returned to patrolling the sleepless city. When the golem disappeared form sight, Viktor turned his gaze to Ren and the giddy grin on his face.
"Your expression is making you look foolish," he commented.
"I can't help it. The single best golem in the world is my friend now, of course I feel like I'm on top of the world."
Elsewhere in the city, the same cool air that passed through Viktor's lab blew over the tense hands of a young man as he prepared his Z-Drive for what he had to do.
Greetings Summoners,
I yet live. I apologize for the lack of updated last month, but I have had to add finding a new apartment to wedding planning and combining that with a new job and PAX East at the end of the month and I have been busy. I do feel like this story is ready to head into its third act. Also, if anyone is going to be at OAX East, give me a shout out. I would love to meet you.
Good luck on the Rift,
Alexandra
