Smoke on the city
- Amandine's right... She really is Kiramman's lapdog...
The whispers of the nurses crept in through the door, and made Vi sighed. Back in prison, she would have broken all their teeth for that, just to make sure other inmates knew she was not to be fucked with. Some habits are harder to lose than others... But at the same time, she understood. She had spent the last night and day sitting at the bottom of the hospital's bed, sleeping on the the floor when the chair started to feel too hard on her back, leaving Caitlyn's side only to get some food.
- No fucking way, she had said. This stuff is worst than the prison's canteen! Gosh, half of your patients probably choose to die rather than eating this crap!
Of course that had triggered a dispute between the hospital staff and her, solved only by the intervention of Jayce.
Caitlyn had been in intensive care for a full day, after Vi had carried her all the way from the Lanes, exhausted and bloody, but unscathed. She was now in a stable condition, with a broken arm, but the doctors had been adamant : her fall could have damaged more than just one bone, and they wanted to keep her for observation.
Since then, she had been sleeping almost fourteen hours a day for the past three days, which was not to reassure the doctors, her partner, or her family.
Someone knocked on the door.
- Come in, whispered the enforcer.
Mel Medarda entered, a gentle smile on her lips. The scars on her face had faded to almost nothing. She had completely shaved her head, so her hair would grow back uniformly and erase all traces of the attack. After three months, they were now almost ten centimeters long, still too short to covers the burnt marks on her necks, which went all the way down her back. She did not hide those under large dresses, she had chosen not to change anything about her wardrobe. After all, she was Noxian by blood, and scars were as precious as their rings and jewels. Especially since the recent murder of her mother, it made her feel closer to her, something she never thought she would need.
Her smile grew wider, as her gaze pointed at Caitlyn.
- She's doing better, thank you Councilor, answered Vi. She's just resting, but the docs said she could go home tomorrow or the day after. She's just sleeping.
Mel nodded slowly. That's good.
Her voice had still not returned. The brightest minds of the city had tried to figure out the reason, a way to help her, but no one could bring it back. Some supposed the shock, combined with the heat burning her throat and neck, had damaged her vocal chords, maybe permanently.
For the past weeks, she had been helping Jayce as much as she could, as adviser. In no way could she resume her own work, how could she be the voice of the people without a voice of her own? But there was so much to do nonetheless that she had dived into it, running away from the death of her mother and her own fate. She communicated with her partner with writings, signs, smiles or frowned eyebrows, the best she could. In truth, Jayce Talis was her partner in work only, on the personal side, she couldn't welcome him back into her chambers again. Something blocked. No matter how kind he was, how hellbent he was to find a cure for her, how understanding he could be about her mother, she just could not.
- Is there anything I can do for you, Councilor? asked Vi.
Mel admired her. She was so strong, so tough, like a cliff after centuries of constant battle against the ocean. And still, even after such a rough childhood, after years in prison, she had kept a part of innocence, or at least, optimism, that baffled the Noxian. She had lost so much, so many times, and still, she had found the strength to care again. To love again. When for her, she felt broken after the loss of a mother she resented. She admired her, but she hated how weak she made her feel.
None of that would ever rise to the surface, of course. If nothing else, her control over her emotions and actions was her best weapon, and what the city needed. What she needed.
She handed the pink-haired woman a piece of paper she had prepared.
I wanted to check on her. Also, I have read your report of the events of that night, and would like to discuss it with both of you, when she feels up to it. Finally, the funerals of the four enforcers killed in the attack will be held tomorrow. Your presence would be highly appreciated, by the families, and by the Council.
Vi looked up from the paper and stared at the councilor.
- Very well, we'll come to you as soon as Cupc... Sheriff Kiramman is well enough. As for the funeral... Aaah. Yes. You can count on me.
Mel smiled her content. Then she mimed something with her hands at her mouth.
- You want me to speak a few words? I don't know... I barely knew them. I'm barely one of them! I'm not sure it would be welcomed.
Mel joined her hands in front of her. Please.
- Alright alright. I'll think of something...
Mel Medarda's smile grew wider. She bent forward to notify her gratefulness and that she was about the leave.
Vi let herself fall, not in the chair, but in a corner of the room, protected by the walls. She put her head in her hands, and for a second, almost missed the feeling of the gauntlets upon her skin. She wondered if she would feel less tired, if she was all made of steel instead of flesh.
Powder screamed her frustration. She could not hit that stupid target ! Could not could not could not! Why? Why and why? It wasn't supposed to be that hard! She did it all the time with Mylo! So why was her hand trembling? The target was what, fifty centimeters further than usual? Thirty? She should hit it! It. wasn't. HARD!
She bit her lip so she wouldn't scream again. She felt that if she did, she would rip her own throat out. She had to breathe, she had to cooldown! Why was it so hard to breathe?
What would Vi say?
Why would that matter anyway? Vi was gone, and she was never good with the guns. Only Mylo was.
She looked next to her, at the empty spot at the stand. Her friend used to hold his gun with one hand, claiming it looked cooler. He had taught her that technique, that's how she used to duel against Little Man. She didn't even have to close her eyes to see him, picture him standing that gun. She just had to imagine him, and here in was, like they had played yesterday, the gun in his hand. She could see him smile at her, not a warm, comforting smile, but his classic provoking grin.
Come on, Powder, bet you can't do better.
- Screw you, I can beat you!
Without thinking, she rose her gain with her single left hand and shot, without looking. The bullet pierced a hole at the center of the target.
- Ah! You see! Gotcha!
Of course there was no answer. No Mylo and his face looking disappointed, a little hurt as well. She couldn't hear the giggles of her big sister mocking the young man, nor the congratulation of Claggor.
Yet, for a split second, she thought the saw the young man, his goggles on his head, a thin smile on his lips.
- Alright, let's do it again! she whispered to her gun, answered by nothing but the smile of the empty.
They went to the Council Chamber two days later. Caitlyn was fine enough to walk, run, and shout at people, therefore good enough to work. She was actually eager to. Only her arm, strapped between metal rods until healed, would prevent her from going back to the field.
The funeral, on the day before, had not gone very well. The Sheriff had followed her trusted partner, considering the invitation extended to her as well. The day was, of course, grey and cold, misty. Many people and gathered to say a last farewell to their fallen friends, colleagues, fathers or sons. Caitlyn did not expect the cries of widows to hit her so hard. The four-years-old blond child asking why his father was sleeping in a box had brought her such pain and shame she could have thrown up. Finally, the accusation of a young widow, mad with grief, to have sacrificed her husband for some downsider criminals had taken her aback so much she had started to cry. Vi had intervene, rudely, and things had almost escalated to a brawl. She couldn't really blame her partner, but she had made things worst.
The town's newspapers were probably the happiest of these events. The next morning, the legitimacy of Caitlyn, and more specifically, of her right arm, were publicly questioned. After all, what were Vi's qualifications for this position? Apart from sleeping with the Sheriff?
To her partner's biggest pride, Vi had risen above. While a reputation and a name were all most of downsiders had, while reputation used to be her only armor down in prison, she didn't care about Piltover's opinion of her. Up there it meant nothing, served no purpose to her.
As the Heir to the House of Kiramman, the matter was not that simple, but the Sheriff was sure that hard work and dedication would wash away that stain. No matter how long it would take. After all, she hadn't accepted this job for the glory of it. She had done to serve her people, and she didn't need their approval to do so.
Mel Medarda invited them to sit by a simple gesture, so they did. The black-skinned woman sat in front of them, her hand joined together at her chin, elbows on the table, and with a single nod, ordered them to tell the story of that bloody night again, with their own word.
It took the two women almost a full hour to tell the story from the start. Caitlyn was incapable of describing the monster that had put her down, the last thing she remembered was the door of ChemJack's office slamming in her face, and then pain, darkness, and blurred shapes all around. Vi did her best to put words on the image still clear in her mind, but Mel's face clearly betrayed her doubts and skepticism.
- I know, concluded Vi, it's hard to believe, but I saw it as clearly as I see you right now. I can tell you one thing for sure.
Mel rose an eyebrow.
- This wolf ain't nothing natural, even by our standards. It was created. Modified.
- By who? asked Cait.
- I don't know. There used to be a couple of crazy scientists down there who could come up with a project like that, the mad fuck who created the Shimmer on top of my list... But I think he's dead, and I haven't heard of the others since I've been back. I need to ask some questions and shake some trees...
Mel stared at her for a moment, almost as she was trying to pierce through her soul, then she shook her head from side to side.
- No? What do you mean, no? That beast tore through our ranks like we were made of wind! It killed four enforcers, not to mention half a dozen mercenaries! And the Chem-Baron!
Mel gently tapped her forehead with her right fingers, twice. I know.
- Then why are we not investigating? It's a killing machine! How long until it climbs up here and starts devouring its way through your golden towers?!
Mel's eyes turned to steel for a second before going back to normal. She reached for a piece of paper and furiously started to write down her explanation.
Dangerous as it may be, it works in our favor for the time being. It targets Barons and criminals, and had we not sent a team down there, none of ours would have perished. This is not a blame, but it is a truth. We have more pressing matters here and now.
- Pressing matters? Like what?
Finding the Noxians assassins who killed my mother.
The couple looked at each other.
- I'm sorry Councilor, but while I sympathize with your loss, as well as you know, I fail to see how this is going to help the citizens of Piltover and Zaun.
Mel's face hardened, her fists tightened on her pen.
Zaun does not exist.
- Be as it may, we spent four months going after them. Assigned the biggest team we could, and they came up empty. Again, I'm sorry, Councilor, but they seem to be long gone.
The young woman took a moment to write down her answer.
You don't understand.
They will come back. For me. And then for Piltover.
The sheriff sighed.
- I see. Where do you suggest we start then?
You are the genius investigator, or so says Jayce. Figure it out.
On those not-so-kind words, the peacekeepers took their leave. Councilor Medarda, since she had came back to Jayce Talis's sides, were making their jobs harder, obsessed with the murder of her mother. As one is allowed to be, you could add. Except when hundreds of thousands of people depended on your decisions on a daily basis.
- She won't let that go, repeated Vi as they stepped into their office, three floors below.
- I can't blame her. I can't really let go either...
The brief memory of Jinx silenced them both, until Vi spotted something left on her superior's desk.
- Cupcake... Were you expecting a delivery?
- No, why?
Then the pink-haired heard a noise, a click, like she had heard so many times, so many years ago.
- GET DOWN! she yelled, jumping on Caitlyn, slamming her to the ground.
I only wanted to help
I only wanted to help!
I ONLY WANTED TO HELP!
PLEASE! PLEASE!
Powder woke up in a jump, sweating and trembling. Her tears, flooding in and our, running down her cheeks and inside her throat, were choking her. She couldn't breathe, wanted to throw up. Her vocal chords hurt, like she had tore them out with her wake-up scream.
She looked, wide-eyed and terrorized, at the blank face of Mylo. I was right in front of her, inches away from her face, crouching on her bed. His face was distorted, perverted, silent. Somewhere further, against the wall of her refuge, Claggor was standing, looking away, arms crossed.
- No no no! You're not here...
But Mylo was not moving, if nothing else it felt like he was closer, his ghostly breath on her skin.
- You shoulda stayed home, kid, whispered a deep voice she immediately recognized.
Vander was walking to her bed from out of the darkness, his gigantic stature soaking up the lights and hopes of the whole world. His face looked almost normal, concerned, sad, regretful.
- NO YOU'RE NOT HERE ! YOU GO AWAY ! YOU GO AWAYYYY!
Her scream went so high pitched it hurt her owns ears. She closed her eyes shut and scratched her face, scratched her skin, to wake up from a nightmare she had already left.
Vander's voice disappeared and went silent. It was gone. He was gone, they were all gone. Again.
She grabbed the string above the her bed and pulled. Four lights, that she had installed herself, turned on above her.
She reached for one of the notebook Silco had given her, a few crayons, and started scratching.
I'm sorry.
Lying on the ground, face down, her left hand pressing Cait's head against the floor while covering her body has much as she could with hers, she waited for the infernal winds to burn her back to a crisp.
- Argh ! My arm! Vi what the hell?!
Still tensed, the brawler took her chance and opened her eye, still waiting for the explosion.
On the desk, the box, which actually looked like a present with a blue ribbon, had opened itself, all for sides unfolded and tipped over.
- I thought... I thought it was a parcel bomb or something!
- Well who's the hero now?! Now lift me up please.
Vi handed her arm, which Cait grabbed with her only valid limb.
- Well this is strange, who could...
- Shit!
Vi had moved first and leaned over the opened gift. It was stained with a blue paint, like if a color bomb had exploded inside, and in the center, was a message written on a card, with a recognizable purple font.
Wherever you are, light it up, and I'll find you.
- No...
Vi looked up through the window, and immediately noticed the thin blue smoke further downtown.
Caitlyn joined her.
- Is it her?
Before Vi could answer, a massive explosion shook the city, and the blue signal turned into a giant pillar of azure smoke fueled by fire and flammes.
- The bank! That's Piltover's Bank! Let's go! We gotta go!
Before giving Vi the time to grasp and comprehend what had just happened, Cait had left the room running and screaming orders in the hallway, holding her injured arm with her opposite hand.
Vi hesitated, lost for a second, until her gaze stopped on her pair of Hextech Gauntlets, stored in the corner next to her desk.
- Dammit Powder... she whispered.
She finally moved into action and dashed to her weapons, geared up, and sprinted after her girlfriend.
- Cupcake wait for me!
- I told you not to call me that at work! screamed the voice further down the hallways.
Despite the apparent distance of the smoke, it took the Sheriff, her right arm and a squad of ten enforcers less than eights minutes to reached the bank, and discovered an incredible, amazing, terrifying chaos.
- What in the name... muttered Caitlyn, completely taken aback.
The bank, a massive, elongated building made of light-grey stones, was now presenting a second entrance, eight meters to the left of its original one. Instead of the ornated wooden doors of its big sister, the new one offered smoldering pebbles as a welcome. The stones looked almost molten. The blue smoke was pouring out of the hole in the wall and up into the sky, as if it tried to escape a hellish nightmare inside.
Thing is, the peacekeeping force barely noticed all that. All they could see were the mad, panicked, enraged menagerie running around and wreaking havoc in the street. All kind of animals, big ones with horns, small ones with unbearable high pitched screams, fangs, claws and fur all around, it felt like one of those dreams without any logic nor explanations. Some, if not most of the animals, were painted in flashy colors, or written on, as an obvious signature of the day's mischief.
- The zoo... She broke out the whole damn zoo!
Cait was so shocked she could have fallen on her ass.
Vi engaged her gauntlets and pushed back a massive mammal that ran toward them like their were a midday snack. Its claws left a long scratch on her beloved armor.
- What the hell is going on here? she screamed.
Before anyone could answer, a maniac laugh rose from the ashes, literally. On the roof above them, the long blue braids were flying in the wind of chaos.
- Oh ! Hi Sis! Looks like you got my message just in time!
- JINX ! roared Vi, using that terrible nickname instinctively for the first time.
- Oh! Oh! She said it! She said it! Yes yes yes! You heard it, she called me Jinx! Finally!
Jinx's eyes were glowing their purple shade above the flammes of her heist.
- It's good to be home, Violet! I've missed you! I just wanted to let you know that I'm back! I'm sorry for not coming down to hug you and all, but well...
She juggled with a little pouch in her left hand, showing off part of her loot.
- I can't mix work and private life ! Unlike you, my dear Pink!
Vi froze a second and turned red of rage and hate.
- How the fuck did you call me? Get the hell down here, Jinx!
Jinx pouted.
- Oh I'm sorry, looks like I hit a nerve... It was a pleasure to see you again, Sis! But I gotta go!
She waved playfully at Caitlyn, still trying to find her words.
- Sister-in-law! Mes hommages! she winked.
With a graceful twist, she turned away, her massive mini-gun as well as the terrible shark-like rocket launcher in her back, as if they weighted nothing, and with a single jump, disappeared behind the roofs.
Vi tried to run after her, but her path was quickly cut by a whole family of monkeys who clearly enjoyed the mayhem. She jumped above and rushed through the streets, but it was clear that she had already lost tracks of her sister, again. It was like she had vanished. Again!
- FUCKING HELL! she screamed in rage, kicking a trashcan next to her.
Something dark and confusing was growing in her heart. She was happy, so happy to see her sister again, that she was alive, healthy, and at the same time, so hurt and enraged to understand that it was only Jinx who came back, along with the chaos and destruction she seemed so fond of. She was lost and confused in her own heart.
She turned back to go and help her girlfriend set things in order, starting by gathering and neutralizing every single animal that the loose canon had set free and brought to the scene, gods knew how. It took them seven hours. By the time their were done, exhausted, dripping sweat and soot, the night had fallen, the ashes had settled and the smoke had disappeared.
Of course, journalists, officials, random crowd, all had gathered around the place to satisfy their curiosity, making their jobs harder.
Once the animal threat was dealt with, and all creatures returned more or less safely to the zoo, they finally could enter the bank. Jayce was already inside, inspecting the scene of the crime himself. He was staring at the first clue, which was rather hard to miss. A giant graffiti had been drawn on one of the tapisserie, ruining it forever. It showed a giant heart in flashy pink, inside which were written the letters 'V+C'. The heart was pieced with a giant arrow, on the tip of which was written in purple 'Jinx'.
- I wonder how she found the time to draw this, wondered the Councilor, ignoring the scarlet blush on the Sheriff's cheeks.
- It's not important, swept Vi. How the hell did she pull this off? Those walls are one meter thick, even my gauntlets could not get through!
Jayce pulled out a molten piece of rock from his pocket.
- I don't know, but it seems she managed to create a bomb which generates more heat than force. It looks like the wall melted, instead of blowing up.
Jayce seemed half-impressed, half-terrified. For a minute, he had forgotten about the damages she had done to him and his life, and just appreciated her twisted genius.
- Do we know what she took? asked Caitlyn.
Jayce sighed heavily, finally catching up with reality.
- Yes we do. Sadly. She didn't touch the gold, did not take anything from any safe.
Cait rose an eyebrow.
- She stole my reserve of Gemstones. All eights of them.