A/N: Thanks for staying with me up to this point. I ended on a cliffhanger so I pushed myself a bit to get this out. Hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 6 - The Shifting of the Tides
Marati charged across the pitch to Lux, who with both legs injured, wasn't going anywhere. Lux grabbed her baton to throw a barrier, but it failed so she just put her arm up and prepared for the worst.
"You're finished!" Marati laughed hysterically as she moved across the pitch. Lux only braced herself more, but when the blow was expected, it didn't come. Lux opened her eyes and saw a barrier surrounding her. Puzzled since her own barrier had failed, Lux turned her head looking for the source.
Marati, who had swung her arms with those claws, was now nursing them and her chest as they rebounded back on her. She was also looking around for the source of the barrier. Lux turned to Debonair and he shook his head. Lux turned around and saw no one else in the stadium.
"Picking on someone who is helpless. You haven't changed have you." Came a voice at last. Lux turned her head, and smiled. Standing on top of the stadium roof was unmistakably another Guardian. Lux couldn't help but look back at Marati, who's face went from anger to fear at the drop of a hat.
The Guardian for her part, had the same style boots Lux did; a long golden staff topped with a star; over the elbow white and gold gloves; a white and purple outfit with a purple band running down the center with a matching purple skirt and a high collar that fluttered behind her; finally a tiara holding her purple hair, which was much different from Lux's on her head.
The new Guardian hopped from the roof, and the wind almost seemed to carry her gently to the ground. Landing beside Lux, she took the downed Guardian by the hand. "I guess we finally get to meet. I'd say introductions were in order, but I think we have bigger concerns. Let me patch you up." She twirled her staff and suddenly it began to rain, but the rain was warm and inviting. Lux breathed it in and noticed her energy returning. The wounds on her legs were healed, and she noticed her strength returning. Debonair also stood up with renewed energy. Lux also turned to Marati, who she noticed had been throw against a wall and was just getting back up.
The three of them turned to Marati, whose face was still frozen in fear. "Your turn." The new Guardian threw what looked like a miniature tornado and it hit dead center. Marati was throw into the air and came back down hard. Debonair took advantage of the opportunity to charge up an energy spear and after activating his gate, threw it against the voidling. Marati was now in dire straits. The prolonged battle had left her with numerous injuries, but the fact her opponents were on a second wind, while she had already passed it, wasn't good. So she lashed out again.
Debonair and the new Guardian managed to dodge the attacks, but seeing that Lux wasn't, the new Guardian threw another shield on Lux, causing Marati to rebound again with bad results. Lux took advantage of the opportunity to once again throw a binding and several bolts. She then charged her beam for a third time. Marati, tried to move, but the new Guardian hit her with what looked like a feather that slowed her progress. "Final Spark." This time the beam did its job.
"Dusted. Finally." And Lux again collapsed. Debonair, wandered over but kept his distance. The new Guardian bent down next to Lux.
"I know you are hurt, but I think there are some proper introductions to get to. But you might want to get back to your parents first. I know where the base is and I will see you there in a few hours. Take care." She kept her voice low enough so that only Lux could hear.
And with that, she almost floated away. Lux turned to Debonair. "Well, nice to have some help."
"Yep. You ok?"
"I'll be fine. You?"
"Same I guess. Be careful out there."
"You too." And with that they separated and Lux retreated back outside and after finding a concealed position, powered down. Lux turned to find family and after just a few minutes found her mother in a slight panic, but with the amount of people still running around, it seems that many were separated.
"Lux. I'm so glad you are ok. What happened to you?" She said as she grabbed her daughter and pulled her close.
"Mom, I'd tell you but I can't breathe."
"Sorry." And she released her grip.
"I was coming out of the bathroom and saw the stuff going on and just got out as quickly as I could. I hid somewhere, I don't remember, and once it seemed like it calmed down, I left to find you. How's Garen and Dad?"
"Your father got hit with that energy drain thing while Garen and the team took refuge in the locker room. Caitlyn is furious that this happened, and that the Guardians were fighting, but seemed relaxed when that second one showed up. Perhaps she's coming around. But at least you are safe. They have called the game for now so I'm planning on going home with Garen. Oh here he comes. Are you coming home?"
"No think I'm going to walk." Her mother nodded, and as Garen came to the car, Lux gave her bother a hug, which he returned.
"Glad your safe sis. How's dad?"
"Asleep. He'll be fine in a bit. I'm going to wait for him Garen if you want to wait. Or you can walk. I would prefer if you stayed, along with your sister, but I'm not going to stop you." Lux decided to stay and wait for their dad, and once he wandered over, he just got in the front seat while her mother drove home.
Once home, her father went upstairs and collapsed, Garen went to his room and blasted music, her mother just went to the couch and nodded at Lux. Lux for her part, went to her room, change quickly, and headed out. Making sure to grab Dorcha and Solas as they left. First taking a rounding path, she eventually found her way to the library. Entering it, she made her way to the tower and saw Vel and Nasus there.
"Well Guardian, that was a fight. Glad to see another Guardian awoke and showed up just in the nick of time."
"You can say that again. I'm more concerned with the expression on the voidling's face however. It was almost recognition."
"Because it was." The three of them turned and saw a girl standing in the doorway to the tower. Seeing her, Lux put the pieces together immediately. Just as her hair did, her new friend's must change as well, in this case, white blonde to purple. She was dressed like one of the girls from Garen's school and knew what part she would be playing. Turning to Vel and Nasus, they just stood there. Dorcha and Solas were equally in shock.
"Hello again you four."
"Janna? How did you survive? We weren't aware anyone made it out." Lux now was completely confused. So she took a step back and sat down on one of the stools.
"I almost didn't. I managed to shield the squad at the last second, but when I awoke, I was the only one still there. I then blacked out and woke up again a long time later in another city with no memory of how I got there. I tried to find out what happened, but I have since failed. I somehow ended up with a family that took me in, apparently I was an orphan that they adopted, still can't figure out that memory lapse. And they moved here a few weeks ago. That's when I noticed this changed, so I knew someone else had awoken and I started listening to the news, watched, and waited. I think I should explain since Lux here looked confused."
"My name is Janna, and I was the last leader of the Guardians here on Runeterra. I'm sure you know of that final battle, but it is clear that leadership passed to you. That locket you have, that is only given to the leaders, while the rest of us get miniaturized versions of our equipment. In this case, my staff. Oh you remember Zepher" Janna added as the cat jumped onto the counter. It looked at Lux carefully before settling down.
"Barely, that is still a blur for me."
"I'm sure. Know that you are no longer alone. We hopefully can get along, better than my last squad, but it's clear that you are the leader now so I will do my best to help and guide you. No don't want the position back so don't ask. That is how this has always worked. Better just not question it I've always found."
Lux nodded and closed her mouth. Having a veteran from the last group was a great asset, but something still puzzled her. "Wait what did happen at that final battle?"
"I'd…rather not talk about it." Sensing Janna's hesitation, Lux just backed off, for now at least. Sooner or later she would get it, but pressing Janna now would lead to bad things. Dorcha also looked annoyed, while Solas looked concerned, but both remained quiet. Unusual for either one of them.
"Alright. So what do we do about the void now. That last raid cost them dearly you can be sure they will be back soon."
"That depends on how much energy they have left over from that raid on the gyms a week ago. If they have more left than we thought, they will be back sooner than later. If they lost more than we think, they will take their time. Either way, Malzahar won't be happy with the result of this."
Lux noticed Janna tense up at the sound of Malzahar's name, but she didn't press the matter. At least for now. Somehow those two were connected, but it would be a while before Lux knew why. Either way, Lux knew there was little more that could be accomplished tonight.
"Well I'm going to go home. It's been a long day already and I want to check in with my brother."
"I'll keep an eye on him while we are at school."
"Wait. If you were the leader of the last team, then aren't you…"
"Old? No actually. The one funny thing about being a Star Guardian. Whatever age you accept, you are there until you pass your powers. One way or another. I suspect my memory lapse might be related to some kind of magic where I actually regressed in age to keep up with my biological age. But we can't contact the First Star to know for certain."
"Ok that's just…"
"Weird? Definitely. But since I have so few memories from back then, perhaps this is the way it was meant to be. I don't know. I know a lot about the Guardians, what we do, and what we stand for, but that's well beyond what I know. Now go home before your parents start to worry. We can get to know each other more later. I'll find a reason."
Janna winked and Lux took it as an excuse to leave. Looking back as she reached the door, she saw Janna heading up to the second floor. Smiling that she was no longer truly alone in her role, she clicked the pen, and found herself in her room. Hopping from Lux's shoulders, Dorcha and Solas turned to her. "You knew her."
"Yes we did. Like everyone else, we thought she was gone. That last battle was colossal in size. We weren't near it, but we did see the after affects. The funny thing is all of Janna's old equipment is in the museum. Maybe there is something else that allowed her to survive."
"Perhaps…stasis. Maybe she placed herself in a magical stasis until the time was right, purging her thoughts as a result, or on purpose. Either way she is still hiding something." Lux nodded, but after checking in with her parents, and her brother, she decided to spend the rest of Saturday just sitting playing games. Trying to take her mind off the chaotic day she already had. And the lingering pain in her legs.
Janna for her part, did head up to the third floor, and found Lux had not chosen her old room. Instead, she found her old room, looking over the Library and after placing her name on the door, she headed home. Walking past Lux's house on the way, she noticed Dorcha sitting on the windowsill, sleeping. Janna smiled and after turning to Zepher, they both headed up the street to her adopted home.
"Janna. Good you are home. We were worried. You heard about the mess at the stadium?"
"Kind of hard to ignore it dad. It was very…noticeable. Explosions, gunshots, and then three large beams. Yeah kind of hard to ignore that."
He just laughed. "Janna you still know how to make me laugh after all these years."
"Dad. I have a serious question. I know I've asked it before, but I want a real answer."
"I guess you should know. Your mother was unable to conceive, so we turned to adoption, and you have been the love our life ever since."
"I know that, but do you know what happened to my birth parents?"
"Oh that." He chucked a bit. "No we don't. All we know from your records is that you were dropped off as an infant and we adopted you about a year later. They said, given how you arrived, it was probably a mother who was overwhelmed and gave you to someplace that would take care of you because she couldn't. I wish I knew more but are you unhappy…" His voice dropped as Janna fell into his arms, crying a bit. He just hugged her back. He knew it would come sooner or later, but given how much she's been prying about her past lately, he was ready.
"Sorry, I know it's a touchy subject for you." Janna finally said.
"No. Not at all."
"You're lying."
"Prove it." And Janna elbowed her father in the stomach. "Ok yes but it isn't as bad as you think."
"Thanks dad. I'm going to finish homework." Janna proceeded to her room as her father looked on.
'Still not one regret. She's happy. She knows. And she still calls us Mom and Dad. Win all around.'
Janna sat in her room while Zepher joined her. "I wish I could help Janna, but I can't remember anything either."
"I know, it's just frustrating."
"Eventually we'll figure it out. Just stop stressing over it. Ever since you woke to your old memories, they have been clogging your head. Just relax and you will get through this. Lux seems nice and will help you. She will eventually pry into that final battle, but I'm sure she's content to let you live and let live for now."
"She'll know eventually. But until that day comes, she can't. It's just…"
"I know." Zepher hopped into Janna's lap as another tear appeared. Curing up on her lap, he just let out a purr, earning a smile from Janna, who turned around and picked up her tablet and went back to some new comic books.
"Kha'Zix. I am not pleased. Now we have that Guardian back. She was a pain the last time, and with her experience, we will have to spend more energy to get what we need. I'm puzzled how she survived that final battle, but we will figure that out in time. We have to plan a new attack soon as our energy reserves were very much depleted in that attack. Marati was one of my best warriors. We will have to resort to more subtle attacks for now."
"Oh great prophet, I understand. I didn't foresee another Guardian waking that quickly. I will redouble my efforts to acquire energy."
"Be careful Kha'Zix. Avoid populated targets. Try to go under the radar like the last good one. We cannot afford mistakes right now."
"Understood."
As Sunday evening wound down, Lux turned to see a purple and white cat in her room. "Zepher what are you doing here?"
"Sorry to intrude. Not surprised are you?" Lux pointed to Dorcha and Solas. "Right. Janna asks that you ride with your brother tomorrow as it will create an excuse to run into each other. She'll be walking by your school hopefully as Garen pulls up."
"Thanks. Zepher. Be careful out there."
"Always am." And he quickly left through the window. Lux sat back in her chair and relaxed. Convincing Garen to drive her tomorrow wouldn't be too difficult, but running into Janna would be harder. But if she is a student at Garen's school, he can never ignore a pretty girl looking for a ride. Lux smiled as she admired her plan and decided to just go to bed for the night.
The following morning, Lux managed to convince Garen to take her to school, and pick up Amy along the way. Both girls in the back talked while Garen just rolled his eyes until they got to Grove. When they pulled up, Lux noticed Janna and then it occurred to her what she was thinking of doing. Lux got out quickly and deliberately knocked into Janna, and they both fell to the ground.
Lux just got a quick look at Janna, who winked in reply. Lux shook her head and quickly got to her feet.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you."
"It's fine." Janna replied as Lux helped her to her feet. Garen, for his part, took immediate notice. Getting out, he stepped in.
"I'm sorry my klutzy sister knocked you over. I see we go to the same school. Allow me to make up for her error with a ride so you don't have to walk." He was almost beat red, and Lux played along with it by rolling her eyes. Lux took another look and saw Zepher in a tree with Dorcha and Solas and all three were barely holding in their laughter.
"It is no trouble I'll walk. Everyone has a bad day."
"I insist." Janna's turn to roll her eyes. Playing the girl who is playing hard to get.
"Fine. But I need to know your name first."
"Garen. And the klutz who knocked you over is my sister Luxanna." That actually got Lux to shoot him a stink eye. Janna just giggled and nodded. After allowing Garen to be a gentleman and help her into his car, he quickly speed off. Amy was also barely containing her laughter. Lux shot another look at Zepher, Solas, and Dorcha, and all there were laughing.
"You have to be more careful Lux. You could actually get your brother to maybe catch someone someday."
"Dream on. He was barely avoiding tripping over himself there. He couldn't land someone if his life depended on it. Now move or we will be late." And the two of them hurried inside.
The drive for Garen was a complete nerve racking experience. When they arrived after a rather quiet ride, Janna gracefully got out. "Thanks again. Don't keep apologizing for your sister. It was an honest mistake. But still, I'll see you in a few classes." That left Garen stumped until he remembered that she was in his mathematics course. Smiling again he almost forgot to lock his car before going in. Being one of the few students with a car, he really didn't need to worry, but also knew that there was nothing as too careful.
For both Guardians, the morning and the day in general was boring. Classes always weighed heavily on both of them and things weren't going anywhere fast. At least not yet. Lux noticed that she felt even more tired than usual and looking around so did everyone else. The only one who didn't seem to be lagging was Amy. Lux tried to clear for fogged up mind for a few seconds but couldn't think of a reason. Lux noticed that everyone at the school seemed to be in a haze, and they all didn't seem to notice it on everyone else.
Making her way to the roof, she saw Dorcha sitting there. "Noticed it did you?"
"Feeling it too. I feel like I'm in a haze. Only Amy and a few others seem to be unaffected. I just can't figure out why."
"I'll look into it. I had Solas run over to the high school to see if something similar was happening."
"Hopefully not. But then who knows."
Lux was correct, it was happening and Janna was also in a haze. Noticing that only a few there seemed unaffected as well, she also tried to figure it out, but failed due to her tiredness as well. Zepher also took note, but he was in a similar haze. Solas showed up a few minutes later.
"Happening here too."
"What? The fact everyone is tired? It's boring what do you expect."
"It hit you too. Have anything similar to the students and teachers?"
"No. Wait. Yes. The water. I've had a few sips from Janna, who refilled her water bottle from the school's fountain. That's it."
Solas quickly jumped down and after checking Zepher was following, headed over to the main water line into the school. Sensing no void energy, he turned to Zepher. "We need to spread out and find where the energy is coming from. Wait." Solas felt all of the void energy disappear. "Rats. Hopefully it will be back tomorrow. We'll have to tell the Guardians."
"Right." And they both separated and headed back to their respective charges." Arriving back on campus, it was clear today was a bad day to be a yordle. The short inhabitants of Runeterra and the city were almost being tripped over by exhausted students. Solas managed to make his way to Lux, who was almost asleep at her desk.
"Don't drink the water. There is void energy in it." That snapped Lux out of her trance as she turned to the poro sitting on her shoulder.
"You sure?"
"It's the only thing in common. It seems gone for now, but it probably will be back." Lux put her head into her hands and thought very carefully about what Solas just said. They must be getting in somewhere, but doing this over a large area would make it harder to detect, in theory. But in reality she knew it would be caught. So it must be something else. Lux knocked her head against her hands again to clear the last bits of fogginess and it came to her. There was something else that the schools shared, a lot of people who had a lot of energy, but weren't doing anything with it.
"It's not the water. It's the fact we aren't using energy. Amy and the others unaffected are always doing something therefore are expending energy. Whoever this is, they are carefully targeting those who aren't doing anything. So where would they put a machine like that?"
Solas hopped down and headed out while Lux pulled out a notebook and started expending energy to keep herself awake, and it was working. Solas for his part passed the information to Dorcha who relayed it to Zepher and Janna. Janna also made herself busy and noticed she was feeling more awake. Solas meanwhile scouted out the area and he was drawn to the High School's planetarium. He managed to sneak inside after getting Dorcha and Zepher and they found what they were looking for.
Inside, Kha'Zix and what looked like a cat were in the room. "Excellent Harad. Using this plan, we should drain out all of the excess energy out of those students. It is funny how they waste so much and if they look sleepy, it just blends in."
"Indeed master. Hopefully the Guardians will not notice, but they seem to have ears everywhere. I would suggest we stop for today and wait and attack another target tomorrow. We have to shift."
"Agreed. Let's move." Kha'Zix opened a void portal and disappeared. The three looked at each other. Nodding. They ran back to Janna and Lux to report. Agreeing without seeing each other, they would meet at the tower after school, which came much faster than anticipated.
At the tower, the two talked it over.
"We have to be careful. We can't just up and leave school without warning tomorrow we will get caught. But we also need to know where they are."
"So you three will have to be our eyes tomorrow. Find out where they are, so we can get them."
"Ok how you will you manage to get out of school. We don't have a solution to that one."
"Actually I do." Vel'Koz said has he wandered in. "Take these. Tomorrow just swallow them when you hear about the attack and ask to see the nurse. They will replicate symptoms of a bad stomach ache and they should let you go, or at least keep you in the nurse's office. There we can fool them with a bit of your magic. You can persuade them at you are still there even if you are gone. Just spray this when you need to leave if they won't let you go home."
They both nodded and after a nod from Lux, they proceeded up the stairs. "Star Guardian Power Up." In an instant, they were both transformed.
"I guess I'll start with showing you my powers. You obviously saw my tornado yesterday. But I'll demonstrate again." Janna charged a twister and threw it in a line. "Once it's gone, I can't control it, but you see there. I also have Zepher here. When I transform so does he into this elemental." Zepher made himself just a bit darker to show. "He takes the form of a feather and can slow down opponents." Janna called on a dummy to demonstrate. Zepher leaped from Janna's side to attach to the dummy and slow it down, almost out of time."
"Nice."
"Like you, I also have a shield, but it is limited to a single target. And finally I can call upon the rain to heal and restore you. But I can also push wind through it as you saw yesterday. Hopefully we won't need that as, like your Spark, it is rather draining. I saw your abilities yesterday but you might want to demonstrate them again."
Lux went through her abilities again for Janna's sake and then they began to practice together. A tornado/singularity combo was rather effective. After an hour, they both powered down and headed back outside. The day was nice and they both walked separately back home for fear of being discovered by anyone as they weren't "friends" yet but that was going to change. Janna had managed to get out of Garen information about Lux and seemed to be interested in them both. Lux just rolled her eyes as Janna explained that.
Lux arrived home to an empty house, which was highly unusual. Pulling out her phone, she checked and she didn't miss anything from her parents. She went up and found Garen in his room. Knocking, he turned.
"Finally decided to come home?" Lux rolled her eyes. "Jeez I'm only kidding. Mom and Dad went out for a night. Also thanks for bumping into that girl this morning. She was cute and…"
"You didn't even talk to her on the ride there did you?"
Garen face went through 10 shades of red in about 15 seconds. "No. But I did talk to her during math. She expressed an interest in seeing you, since I let slip about your gaming habits."
"Sure, you don't have a motive here do you?"
"No."
"Your face tells wonders."
"Ok fine. She's cute and nice."
"Keep going there. Maybe you will get lucky." Lux ducked out as Garen threw a ball at her, which hit his door instead. Heading into her own room, Lux went over to her computer and began looking up all of the schools that were in the area of hers. The results left her even more drained. "Too many" she said after a half hour of searching. Lux decided to get something to eat and after looking through the kitchen, and noticing that they were low on things she decided to go out. Heading up the stairs to grab her bag, she ran into Garen.
"Nothing in the kitchen?"
"Not much."
"Well I guess out it is. See you later."
"I'm sure." Lux entered to room again to find Zepher. "You are Janna's companion right?"
"Yes. But she had a message. If you are willing, and able, she would like to 'bump into you' at a place about 4 blocks from here. The Noodle House or something."
" I know what she's talking about. Sure I was planning on going out anyway."
"Excellent" and he hopped back out the window. Dorcha and Solas turned to Lux.
"He was always like that. Janna has some maternal instincts and wants to watch out for everyone. He just wants to keep everyone in the loop."
"But he sometimes doesn't do the best job of respecting people's privacy. Maybe he could use a few lessons on that point."
"Perhaps. Well let's go." Lux held open her bag, and the two jumped in. Lux grabbed her hoodie and headed out. Locking the front door behind her, she proceeded to Kench's Noodle Kingdom. Arriving, she didn't see Janna, but saw Tahm behind the counter clearly welcoming customers. Lux placed her order and sat down, while Dorcha and Solas carefully made their way out of her bag and onto the seat. After looking around, Lux noticed Janna carefully entering, and after she got her food, joined Lux at her table.
"Is this taken?" Lux shook her head. "Well let's try to meet properly without one of us bowling the other over. I'm Janna."
"Lux" she replied as she took Janna's hand. Their conversation quickly changed up the conversation to basic introductions to keep up the illusion until their area emptied out a little. Janna kept a careful eye on the door, knowing Nasus also frequented this place and for someone else.
"I'm just saying that we can't possibly monitor all of the schools."
"It will be difficult, but getting out will be harder. Oh look." Lux turned around carefully and noticed Garen and his friends walking in. Lux immediately turned back around not wanting Garen to see her, but Janna just smiled. "He'll probably try again. Your brother is quite charming, when he can get the words out." 'And when he isn't trying to overdo it.'
"Yeah , but he tried to overdo it so much that it drives people away. Here he comes."
"So I run into you again. This really is a nice place isn't it." Lux just kept her head down for the moment. How her pigtails were lost on Garen right now was beyond her but whatever. Janna for her part was playing the girl who was flattered but more interested in continuing to chat with her current companion. "Any way I could join the two of you? Perhaps we could get to know each other."
Janna winked at Lux, who readied herself. "I would hope you know your sister by now but if you wish I have no objections." Garen's head turned to Lux who just smiled and waved. Inside his head, Garen was an idiot for not recognizing his sister before and quickly lost his train of though. Giving his sister a moment to laugh quietly.
"I'm sure we can get to know each other better in school. Nice to see you again Luxanna." Garen quickly left to join his friends and they were clearly giving him a hard time for not recoganizing his own sister. Lux just smiled and it was only then did it click that he addressed her by her full name. Scowling, she returned to her food.
"If you want to go berate him for that, I'm not going to stop you."
"He does that when he gets hit with the unexpected. Usually me in places where he didn't expect me. I'm not a fan of this place, but still know it enough. He just trips over himself, and now he defends me" Lux noted as Garen hit one of his friends in the arm. Janna just looked puzzled.
"I don't see how you know that."
"Because I know him." Janna just nodded. There was that bond between siblings that always seemed to persist. Even if they were always at odds with one another. Quietly they turned back to their real goal while Lux noticed Zepher outside. He was harder to sneak in than the two poros she brought.
"We'll just need to be on watch tomorrow, but I have little doubt that we will catch them in the act. Just keep busy and we should be fine. Just fake having a sore stomach all day."
Lux nodded and they quickly turned to other topics, like gaming and talking about the latest tournaments. Garen for his part did wander back over about 5 minutes after that began and while he tried to keep up, the conversation was quickly lost on him. Leaving just a few minutes after he tried to join them, Lux noticed he went in the opposite direction of the house.
"Well, we probably should get going since we do have to be up tomorrow. Just one last thing, exchange phone numbers. We used to use communicators, but since this is available, why not use it?"
"Agreed." The two swapped phone numbers, and parted ways. Lux made her way back home and noticed the door to Garen's room was ajar, her parents still weren't back yet. Inside he was playing a game, and she just smiled. Clearly Janna had caught his attention like no one other since he usually didn't spend a lot of money trying to figure out what was going on. Lux shook her head and headed back into her room
Immediately she noticed something was off. Turning back around she burst into Garen's room, knocking him out of his chair. Lux just stood there with her arms crossed and staring at her brother. "Sorry sis, didn't hear you get home. Um I was going to…"
"If you want to know more, just ask next time. Or get your own."
"I did. Its setting up." Lux turned to a small TV and noticed another console there.
"Next time ask. And wait for yours to update before grabbing mine. Also touch my computer and you will know the phrase 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'" Lux turned, and figured Garen would return her console so she grabbed her headset and headed back onto her computer. Garen managed to sneak in and place it back on the table in her room while she was playing, with Janna.
"Don't do it again" and he sprinted out and his door slamming was all the ability she needed to smile. Lux signed off a few minutes later and decided to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Lux's prediction turned out to be correct as Dorcha, Solas, and Zepher ran around to surrounding schools trying to find where Kha'Zix was set up today. Janna and Lux had managed to play the "upset stomach" card well enough so that their teachers were keeping an eye on them. Janna was trying to sit through her math class with Garen constantly staring at her, while Lux was trying to keep busy in her class while Amy and others just scribbled around.
Both kept checking their phones for a message from the other one, but it never came. Lunch finally rolled around and Janna texted Lux for info, but she just said nothing was available. None of them have reported back yet so they just ate their lunches with their friends.
For their part, Dorcha, Solas, and Zepher were running around and tyring to find something. And for the most part, there was no luck. Dorcha made her way to the next school on her list, when she immediately sensed the void energy. Looking around, she was almost back to Lux's school and after noting the name, Runic High, she dashed back to Grove Middle School.
Lux was barely focusing on the lessons she was supposed to be learning because of how she was anticipating leaving at a moment's notice. Looking out the window, she still saw no one and a check of her phone saw nothing more. Lux just put her head on her desk. At first it seemed that working all day wouldn't be that hard, but it was harder than she thought. Drifting of again, she almost missed a black poro outside the window. Lux shook off the distraction and after seeing Dorcha jumping, she bit down on the pill in her mouth and immediately doubled over while she waited for it to take effect.
"Ms. Teller, I really need to go to the nurse. I think something in my lunch made it worse." Ms. Teller turned around and nodded.
"Need help?" But Amy was already helping Lux out of her seat. Lux carefully hid her phone in her pocket before standing up fully and with Amy's help went down to the nurse. On the way she slipped Janna a text.
Janna was barely focusing on her classes when she noticed her notification light. Quickly checking it, Janna put the pill from Vel into her mouth and followed a similar procedure. Janna had no issue getting to the nurse on her own, despite the offer of several guys in the class.
Both nurses were perplexed, but after their "symptoms" subsided a bit, they released them to go home as the day was nearing an end. Both quickly sprinted out of their schools and met Dorcha between them.
"Well that was quick you two. They are at Runic High. I suggest transforming immediately and heading out."
"Right. Star Guardian Power Up." Both were transformed into their alter egos and they ran for the school. Arriving, the void energy was obvious. Runic was a different school and had slightly different hours. Both knew that Kha'Zix would be preparing to leave and they quickly moved to the school's roof.
Once there, Janna managed to identify where they were, on the school's tower. Turning to Lux, she nodded and Janna sent a twister towards the tower. Clearly not expecting that, Kha'Zix and his minion jumped from the tower and onto the roof.
"Well you both certainly know how to introduce yourselves. Now let me introduce you both." Kha'Zix flung spikes at the two Guardians but both had already jumped out of the way. "We can't lose the energy we have collected. Harad finish them and report back, or don't if you fail."
"No." Lux threw a singularity and not only did it manage to collapse the void portal, but it sent Kha'Zix flying backward. Lux threw a few bolts from her baton while Janna took on Harad and Zepher managed to show up in the nick of time and slow the voidling before he managed to connect with his claws. Janna used her control over the air to float around the battlefield while Harad tired himself out from repeated strikes that hit nothing but air.
Lux threw a binding at Kha'Zix, and while he dodged that, the hammer that quickly ran into him was another matter. Kha'Zix quickly found himself flying into a wall again as Debonair sent an energy pulse his way. Jumping out of the way did little as Lux threw another singularity his way. Connecting with it and several bolts from her baton, Kha'Zix flew into a rage. Throwing himself at Lux, he knew he made a bad decision immediately as her binding connected and more bolts. Kha'Zix was now struggling to stay on his feet. Collapsing to the roof, he knew he couldn't burn much more energy or this would be a loss. Something Malzahar wouldn't forget.
Lux seeing Kha'Zix was down for the moment turned to Harad, who was doing a dance with Debonair and Janna. Well it was him dancing to their repeated attacks as they wore him down. Lux threw another singularity at Kha'Zix to make sure he stayed down for the moment, and threw a binding at Harad. Connecting, he was hit with bolts, an energy blast, and wind slashes. Harad collapsed, and Janna knocked him up once more.
Coming down hard, he somehow managed to jump over to Kha'Zix who was just getting back to his feet. "Consider this your day Guardians." Kha'Zix opened another portal and was just about through when another twister hit them both, and then a binding from Lux. Lux focused her powers and threw them into her beam.
"Final Spark." The blast hit them both and Kha'Zix managed to escape, but Harad was dust on the roof. "Dusted." Smiling, Lux turned to Janna and smiled. Janna returned it while Debonair was making a hasty exit. Clearly not wanting to talk today, he made a beeline for the ladder and after sliding down, he disappeared.
"Did you have anyone like that your last time around?"
"Yes actually. And more. This time Malzahar is being careful. So while the authorities probably know it is the void, the vast majority of people don't. Still, he seems nice and willing to help. Sure he's not your brother?"
Lux gave Janna a shove as they both laughed and headed towards a small patch of trees. Powering down, they made their way separately towards their homes to enjoy the rest of the day.
Getting home, Lux saw a note from her mother telling her to rest a bit before dinner. Janna found a note from her father telling her to do the same. Their reactions were the same. Still, they both headed up to their rooms and decided a nap wasn't a bad idea after all.
"Kha'Zix. I am not pleased with what happened today. You very nearly cost us everything. Your portal allowed that Guardian's beam to penetrate here and destroy some of our voidlings. Along with some of our stored energy. Your profit from today was wiped out by your actions. You again underestimated those Guardians, especially one we are familiar with. You should know better. Maybe it is time I relieve you of your duties or feed you to the Baron."
"Please prophet no. I know I made a mistake, but something was different about them. They seemed stronger than before."
"Did you forget Kha'Zix?" Came a voice from the shadows. "Guardians are more powerful when they group up. Their common goal and purpose unites them and gives them more power."
"I do not need your 'advice' Rek'Sai."
"Really? I was promised a world where my brood could live in peace and grow, yet I see repeated failures from you. Perhaps it is time we change."
"That is my decision burrower queen. I will give Kha'Zix another chance, but those chances are running out. Still at least today wasn't a total loss. Things could have been a lot worse. But failure is beginning to creep into this chamber again, and that I will not stand. Now leave my sight and come up with a new plan.
"Yes prophet." Kha'Zix and Rek'Sai both left the chamber in a hurry and once they were out, turned to each other again.
"Your attitude Kha'Zix is amusing but you cannot outrun your failures forever. Giving the Guardians confidence will only help them. They clearly do not underestimate you, and you still do them."
"Want to take my place? But you can't after your spectacular failure." Kha'Zix spread his wings and jumped out of the way as Rek'Sai took a swipe at him. She missed but was close enough to give them both pause.
"Careful with your words Kha'Zix. Or soon, you will be eating them." Rek'Sai carefully walked away before returning to her chamber. Kha'Zix went outside and stared at Runeterra.
"Curse this planet and curse its Guardians." He spat.
On Runeterra, Lux and Janna looked up at the moon. Knowing their opponents were there, just out of reach was infuriating, but necessary. 'Someday we will force you all back into the void.' Lux thought as she went back inside and went to bed.
'Someday, I'll have my revenge.' A twirl of blonde hair as a window closed was all that was seen.