With Jinx's departure, the Guardians were down to 4, but they all knew that Jinx just might need time to adjust as she really didn't have much time. But neither did any of them. In order to execute their plan, they needed Jinx to come back and rejoin the team. Meanwhile Malzahar, desperate for energy to refill their depleted reserves, tasks Kog'Maw to get more, and fast.
Chapter 30 – Fractured and Divided
Lux remembered a few days ago when something told her that everything would be ok. That everything would work out. Well that feeling had mostly gone away. Granted Malzahar hadn't attacked in recent days but that wasn't any comfort. The whole team was trying to give Jinx some space, but frankly, their time was running out. They knew that Vel'Koz had narrowed down the locations for their rebuild, but they couldn't do it shorthanded. He would be giving them more information after school.
Before they all separated as they walked to school that morning, Lux asked Janna to try and talk to Jinx, if that was possible. Lux was hoping that Janna would have good news when they met up, but her gut told her that it wasn't going to happen. Still, there was hope.
Janna however, was finding it impossible. Janna tried to talk to Jinx before school and during morning break, and Jinx just ignored her. When lunch came around, Janna tried one more time mading an effort not to corner Jinx, but Jinx just brushed past Janna without talking to her. It wasn't a rude push, but one that clearly said leave me alone. "Lux isn't going to be happy" Janna said to herself as she saw Jinx walking away, head low, and her usual pigtails looped into a bun in the back of her head.
When Janna got to the tower she hesitated before opening the door, knowing what she would find on the other side; A disappointed Lux, a determined Poppy, and a very sad Lulu. Taking one last breath, Janna opened the door and found exactly what she expected, except Vel'Koz was also present.
"No luck?" He asked as Janna just hung her head.
"She won't talk to me. She just brushes past me any time I try but at least she doesn't knock me out of the way. I'm not going to try again for a bit." Janna sat down at the table, and Lux just nodded. Clearly she wasn't happy, but she also knew they had little choice. Either Jinx would come around, or they would have to get the point across. Lux was hoping for the former but if she needed to get the point across, she wasn't sure she'd be able to.
"Maybe something will get through to her, but for now, just give her space. She seemed to take it harder than everyone else."
"Yeah, because she's a bit of a nut? She was unreliable, and I knew it."
"Poppy enough. That isn't helping anything. We need to figure out how to get the point across about what we are doing. So unless you have something positive, then just knock it off for right now." Poppy looked at Lux, and while Lux had clearly stepped on Poppy's toes, she still nodded. Deep down, Poppy knew Lux was both right and their leader, and while that didn't help their current situation, Poppy knew that her going on like she didn't wouldn't make it any better.
"Well since everyone wants to get off this topic, I can propose something. I have the information for our barrier rebuild." Everyone got up and moved to the bar, where Vel'Koz laid out a map. "I am putting it up along this river. Here's the issue, with one energy nexus, we have to create a second to balance it. Now this is where the issues start rising up. The nexuses have to be opposites of each other."
"Oh I know where this is going." Lux groaned as she looked at the map.
"I can explain more later, but the energies will have to be opposed to each other in order for this to work. Right now, void energy will fill up the second nexus. I'm debating for the first because we used summoner magic the first time and well we see where that has gotten us. Malzahar will not let the energy that will be in that nexus to easily so there will be a fight, and they will commit everything they can to make sure they get it."
"It's also a battle where we will need everyone." Janna said matter of factly. A small squeak got their attention and from the shoot that Dorcha and Solas usually used, came Shiro and Kuro. They hopped onto the table and looked around. Everyone was surprised to see them.
"You two do know Jinx's position right?" Poppy asked. They both nodded and hopped over to Dorcha and Solas, parking themselves next to them. Poppy actually managed to smile. "Well at least there is some courage here." Still, even though they looked happy, Lux could tell that Shiro and Kuro were hurting over Jinx's decision.
"Come on everyone, let's get some training in. I think we could all hit something right now." Lux smiled as she turned to Poppy who had already pulled her pendant.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Poppy transformed and headed upstairs. The rest of the team followed as Lux was right, they all needed to vent some frustration.
Meanwhile, Jinx arrived home only to find Shiro and Kuro not there. Jinx sighed a bit, knowing they made new friends and while they would no doubt come home at the end of the night, she couldn't go to the tower.
"None of us signed up for that." Jinx said as she sat down at the kitchen table, only to find the Star Guardian contract there. Rolling her eyes, and knowing that Shiro and Kuro would pester her until she read it, Jinx opened it and started to read. 20 minutes later she stopped as she realized she had been reading the same page for 3 minutes. "Uh…how do people do this?"
Jinx got up and fixed herself some dinner, but there was a ping of guilt in her stomach that wouldn't go away. She knew that Lux and everyone else was still there, still fighting, and she just ran away. But then it was something she was good at. She ran away from her friends as a child, pushed people away as a pre-teen, and made herself deliberately unlikable as a teenager. Looking back, she knew that her childhood friends would probably still care about her, if they knew who she was or where she was. After all, she'd changed her name since then, or rather her parents had.
They were rich and didn't want her to be associated with average people. Probably another reason why Jinx found herself alone right now. Jinx checked her phone for a message, and found none. Figuring that Lux would probably try to call her at some point, she decided that if Lux wanted to talk, it would be on her terms and decided to let it go to voicemail. Getting up again, she went upstairs and actually did homework to get her mind off of everything.
After two hours, Lux finally had to call it as everyone just seemed content to just batter the training dummies until they broke, and while that didn't happen yet, it was probably going to with the way Poppy was going at it. As the team headed downstairs, Lux grabbed her bag, which she brought up and after finding her phone, called Jinx, who as predicted didn't answer. Lux almost hung up but decided to leave a message.
"Jinx, its Lux. Look I understand that you are frustrated, and probably a bit scared. I know because we all are. None of us knew what we were getting into and honestly if we did, we probably wouldn't have signed up. But we did. I know there are times when I've regretted what I did, but I also remind myself of the thing that made me sign up in the first place. What if I don't and everyone I know dies because I did nothing when I could have? Could I live with myself? The answer to that was no. I couldn't. I knew I could do something and that I had to. Otherwise who would?
"I know this all sounds preachy but it's the truth. I can't stress how much we need you and honestly how much you bring to the team. Even in the short time, you started to grow, even you can't deny that. If you want to talk, just call me or anyone. We'll be here." Lux put her phone back into her bag and followed everyone else downstairs. There, Vel'Koz was waiting.
"Good. Now, I plan to start the energy nexuses in two days. Once they start forming, they will be vulnerable and subject to attack, but Malzahar knows that if he destroys one, then he can't salvage anything from it. Also we can easily build another one."
"So if you can easily build these things, why haven't you done this before now?" Poppy asked.
"Finding a good location for one." Vel'Koz seemed ready for the question. "Also they take time to form. We haven't really had a need until that last attack and most of our sites were taken up by one thing or another." Poppy just nodded. "Back to the point however, we need to make sure that we are prepared and hope that Jinx does come back. Have you tried reaching out?"
"I tried talking to her at school, but she's made it clear that she doesn't want to talk to any of us." Janna said before turning to Lux.
"I just tried to call her, but she didn't answer. I left a message and I hope she will get back to us."
"Let's hope because we will need her help. I'll explain the details about everything once we get closer to the actual day. Does anyone have any questions for me?" Vel'Koz looked around and no one said anything. "Ok then. I'll be leaving. If any of you need anything before you all leave, I'll be in my office." With that, Vel'Koz floated out and left the team alone.
"Should we give her more time?" Lulu asked after a minute.
"We can't. We need her help now." Poppy relied, very adamantly so.
"Look what happened in her first three outings. I mean would you have reacted differently after a short experience with seeing Baron?" Janna turned to Poppy with a furious expression on her face. Poppy opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it and sat back.
"Maybe not." Poppy said after a minute or two of silence with everyone else looking at her.
"Exactly. Let's just give her the space she needs to think. If she thinks." Janna looked around at everyone. "Anyway, I'm going to get going then. I have some work to do." She grabbed her bag and headed out. Poppy soon followed. Lulu was getting up when she turned to see Lux still at the table. She walked back.
"I'm sure everything will be fine. Just don't let hope fade." Lulu then skipped out the door and Lux smiled a bit.
"Leave it to Lulu to say the most random thing and it somehow brightens up your day. Still though." Lux grabbed her bag and headed up the passage that led to Vel'Koz's office. She knocked when she got to the door.
"Come in. Oh Lux, please sit down. What can I help you with?" Vel'Koz looked concerned as Lux took a seat across from him.
"Can Baron be destroyed?" Lux indented to walk into the question but her mouth was ahead of her brain. Vel'Koz nodded as he saw what was bothering her.
"He can, but not without a lot of effort. Baron has a thick skin, literally, and that makes it harder to destroy him. However, given enough time and effort, he can be destroyed. A full team of Guardians can do a lot of damage quickly but something tells me that is why Jinx quit."
"I mean seeing that on your third time out, what would you do?" Lux sank back into the chair and Vel'Koz nodded.
"I guess. I mean her first time out Poppy fought whatever that was. But that wasn't as bad. It is a valid point nonetheless. I would suggest that giving her the space she needs might help. But also I would suggest finding a way to get her to realize what is going on. It isn't just about her, but everyone."
"I just tried that. I remember what made me go and I told Jinx that in a message. I hope she at least listens to it but who knows." Lux somehow sank further back into the chair.
"Lux. You will get through this. Maybe not right away, but it will work out."
"You know, Lulu said the same thing. Talk to her?" Lux sat up a bit.
"No, but it will work out because it has to. Otherwise, we are all in big trouble. I'm going to keep a positive attitude about this." Vel'Koz tried for a joke, but Lux just rolled her eyes in response, but still managed a slight laugh.
"I guess that works. Now get going." Lux stood up and left. Vel'Koz turned to look out the window and he knew that Jinx might not come back, but he still had to hope. After all, the only time the bad guys win, is when all of the good guys stop fighting.
"I know this all sounds preachy but it's the truth. I can't stress how much we need you and honestly how much you bring to the team. Even in the short time, you started to grow, even you can't deny that. If you want to talk, just call me or anyone. We'll be here." Jinx saved the message and looked out her window. She had listened to Lux's message twice, but that still wasn't enough to change her mind. There was no way she was going to go back into that fight. Still there was stuff to at least chew on.
Jinx saw that Shiro and Kuro had returned and sighed. She knew that they made fast friends and while she resented the fact they were still hanging out with the Guardians, she wasn't going to stop them.
On the moon, Kog'Maw was running around trying to come up with a plan. Their energy reserves were dangerously low and they needed something quickly to restock their supplies. He knew a large scale attack was the only way to go, but they didn't have the energy to do that. Instead he needed a lot of people in a relatively enclosed area to zap energy from quickly. He would also need to hold off the guardians until he was done.
Looking around, he couldn't find anyone who really fit what he needed. The attack was going to be bold, direct, and happen quickly. Knowing one thing that did that well, Kog'Maw sighed in defeat and headed towards Kha'Zix's quarters. Arriving, Kog'Maw found Kha'Zix in the middle of a snack and he was suddenly reminded of how hungry he was.
"Something I can do for you?" Kha'Zix sneered as Kog'Maw entered.
"Feel like fighting one more time? You don't even have to fight really, just distract and keep the guardians occupied." Kog'Maw looked at Kha'Zix with intensity and the giant bug fell into thought. Eventually though, Kha'Zix nodded.
"Fine then, what is your plan?" Kha'Zix got up and hovered over to Kog'Maw, who took a step back so he could see into Kha'Zix's face.
"Attack the large structure with the flat land around it."
"Otherwise called a mall. Sound plan. Lots of fast energy, I suggest you wait for tomorrow. The weekend will see more people. Learn the planet Kog'Maw and you will go far. Notify me when you are ready." Kha'Zix hovered back to the stool he had been sitting on and Kog'Maw ran back to his quarters. Tomorrow would be an interesting day.
With the weekend finally here, Lux considered going to Jinx's house directly, but thought better of it. Carefully getting out of bed, as to not disturb Dorcha and Solas, who were enjoying their sleep, she went across the hall and knocked on Garen's door.
"Come in. Hey what's up?" Garen looked at his sister, who rarely entered his room, let alone approached him for anything. Noticing Lux's nervousness, Garen pushed a chair across to her and Lux sat down.
"Garen I need some advice. I've had a falling out with a friend and she's a bit mad at me."
"Well I won't pretend to know your friends, but was it something you did or said or something they did?"
"More like something they didn't read and it some unsaid things." Lux again picked her words carefully. Garen looked at her with an extremely curious look on his face. He could tell Lux wasn't telling him everything, was picking her words carefully, and if he knew his sister, there was probably a good reason.
"Well first, I can tell you aren't telling me everything. Sorry Lux, but you are rather transparent when you do that." Garen kept his voice police and Lux just blushed. "However, what I can say is that just give them space. It sounds like it's both of your faults so both of you are to blame. If she is a true friend, then she'll come around after things settle down a bit. As to your unsaid things, I would suggest that if you do get back together, then you get everything out into the open. That's about all I got." Lux nodded and made to get up, but Garen put a hand on her shoulder.
"And Lux, remember if there is something you really need to talk about, then I'm here. I won't tell mom and dad." Garen put a good look on his face, hoping Lux would tell him what's been bothering her these past few months, but Lux just sighed.
"It's a personal matter Garen, but if I ever do need to have that conversation, I'll come find you." Garen took his hand off and Lux got up and left. Garen just shook his head. He knew something was wrong, but then nothing had been the same since that first void attack and Lux getting caught up in more than a few since then. Garen also knew that her official story of not sleeping well was probably part true, but there was more. He just couldn't put the puzzle together as there were too many missing pieces.
Lux went back into her room, grabbed her bag, and headed for the library. She had known for a while that Garen was very suspicious of her, and that if she really did tell him, he probably would keep it a secret, but right now, it was just too dangerous. Telling him could put him at increased risk for who knows what, and she could bear putting anyone else in the line of fire who didn't know what they were getting into. And Garen knew little of what he was getting into.
When Lux arrived at the tower, she had a slight hope that Jinx would be there at least blowing stuff up, but there was silence. Lux sighed and headed upstairs pulling her locket as she went. "Star Guardian Power Up!" Lux transformed and after setting her bag down, she started her own training. She started a sequence with the dummies that made her use her binding and singularity to dodge and move around.
She kept up the training for over an hour before she finally gave up and headed back downstairs, not even bothering to power down. Lux put her baton on the table and looked around, finally it hit her. They were down to four and there was little that they could about it. While they could force Jinx to work with the team doing so would probably do more harm than good at this point. Lux was so deep in thought she didn't even notice Poppy had walked in and sat down. Eventually Poppy, tired of seeing Lux like she was, Poppy eventually poked Lux with her own baton. Lux jumped and turned to Poppy.
"Sorry." Lux said as she turned to look at her boots again.
"Hey, just forget it. She'll either come back or she won't. Until then, we'll manage, and if she doesn't come back, then we'll manage." Poppy tried to reassure Lux, but it did the opposite.
"The problem is that we need all five of us in order to be at our full potential. Whether or not you like her, we need to have her in order to have any real hope of defeating the void." Lux couldn't keep the anger out of her voice as she stood up and started pacing around. Poppy was taken aback but was quickly reminded of this and she put her head down. What also took Poppy back is that Lux never powered down and her saying that transformed only added weight to what she was saying.
"I guess I forgot about that." Poppy admitted after there had been silence in the room for a few minutes, apart from Lux's footsteps. "Still, we could always force…" a look from Lux sent Poppy back to being silent.
"We aren't going to force her to do anything. If we do, then the only thing we do is create more problems. Right now, we can't afford more problems. Maybe we can get lucky with this next attack and it won't be as bad. If it even comes." Lux finally sat down on one of the chairs at the bar while keeping an eye on Poppy.
"It will come and you know it. Their energy reserves have to be severely depleted after that. It's only a matter of time until they attack again." Poppy had no more said the words then did a wave of cold wash over them. "I hate being right." Lux just threw Poppy a look as they pulled up the temperature map. "Why the mall?"
"Lots of people. Enclosed space. Easy to get a lot of energy quickly." Lux said and looked at Poppy. She returned the look with a look of confusion before smacking her head into the table. She reached and pulled her pendant.
"Star Guardian Power Up!" Poppy transformed and Lux pulled her phone. Jinx didn't remove herself from their group message.
'they are hitting the mall. Everyone power up!" Lux sent the text then left her phone on the table as she and Poppy charged towards the mall.
Lulu, who had been taking a nice walk in the woods, transformed and quickly sprinted towards the mall. Pix trying to keep up with Lulu's pace. Janna had been sitting in the park and had felt the cold. She found a secluded area and she also sprinted towards the mall. Upon arriving, the scene was chaos. Janna, being the closest, got there first, and noticed Kog'Maw and Kha'Zix.
"You know, I've always hated bugs!" She yelled and sent a twister towards the two. She shattered a couple of orbs in the process, but she also missed Kha'Zix who jumped out of the way. Kog'Maw wasn't so lucky, but he was still able to recover quickly. Kog'Maw kept going around draining energy and throwing orbs through an open portal while Kha'Zix took position between Janna and Kog'Maw.
"Well, that is no way to be polite. How about I show you some manners!" Kha'Zix jumped towards Janna, who dodged and shielded the attack. "Seems you still need a few lessons." Kha'Zix jumped again and almost hit Janna with his claws before he found himself flying through the air and into a nearby storefront, shattering the glass.
"You know, it is very impolite to hit a lady." Came a voice.
"My hero!" Janna said, trying desperately to keep her laughter in check, but she failed and clutched her staff for support as Debonair stood, posed in what could only be described as a classic movie pose. Even he started chuckling after a minute. Not wanting to be outdone, Kha'Zix attacked again, only to hit a shield on both Janna and Debonair and was knocked back. Lux had thrown her baton and quickly threw out a binding as Kha'Zix tried to leap at them. Forced to dodge out of the way quickly, Kha'Zix landed awkwardly, only then to be morphed by Lulu, who had just arrived, into a small frog.
When he transformed back to himself, Kha'Zix again launched an attack, only to be knocked back by Poppy and Debonair, and smashing through another storefront. "Can we try and limit the collateral damage please?" Lux said as the team raced to make sure Kha'Zix stayed down, but he was up before they could get there.
Lux then looked over and saw Kog'Maw throwing more orbs through the portal. Lux nodded to Poppy and they took off towards Kog'Maw, while leaving Janna, Lulu, and Debonair to deal with Kha'Zix, who tried to stop the two from leaving, only to get Poppy's hammer in his side again. At least this time he hit a wall, but still left a sizable imprint.
Janna quickly sent a twister towards Kha'Zix, who barely managed to dodge it and sent spikes Janna's way as a reply. Janna threw up her shield and absorbed the damage, but was left jumping to dodge Kha'Zix's next leap. Debonair quickly swung his weapon to knock Kha'Zix off his footing, but missed. Kha'Zix turned to where Janna had just been but before he could move again, Lulu acted first by sending a glitterlance his way, forcing him to jump again. Turning to Lulu, Kha'Zix charged for her, only to be turned to a small animal as Lulu ran behind Debonair and alongside Janna.
Now very angry, Kha'Zix was about to throw more attacks, but paused for a brief second, which gave him just enough time to react to Debonair's pulse attacks and make a leap. This time, he managed to dodge both Janna and Lulu's attacks, landing a slice with one of his blades on Janna. Lulu quickly shielded Janna from any further damage as Janna collapsed to the floor, holding her side and nursing her leg. Kha'Zix's attack hadn't gone deep, but it did leave a long streak along her side. Pressing his advantage, Kha'Zix leaped again, only to connect with Lulu instead, who threw herself in front of Janna, taking a hit in the arm. Debonair then sent Kha'Zix flying with a swipe of his hammer.
Kha'Zix didn't shake of the landing easily and now it was between him and Debonair. Janna was still nursing the long cut while Lulu was doing the same with her arm. Debonair stood between them and readied himself. After a few seconds, Kha'Zix charged, threw spikes at Debonair, who got a shield from Pix, and belted Kha'Zix with pulses from his weapon in the air, knocking him off his jump. Growling, Kha'Zix then went at Debonair, and after dodging his hammer, managed to get in a swipe on his leg, but it merely glanced off his armor.
"You know, I didn't build this for nothing." Debonair taunted as he then charged his weapon, threw out his gate, then sent a pulse through it. It hit Kha'Zix full in the face, leaving the voidborne in bad shape. Still not wanting to be outdone, Kha'Zix leaped again, and while he managed to avoid Debonair's attack, he still found himself flying into a wall. Janna had managed to recover enough to channel her monsoon and the force of it knocked Kha'Zix back, and healed herself and Lulu enough for them to continue fighting.
Kha'Zix, now looking towards Kog'Maw, saw him jump through a portal and decided now was the time to flee. "Until next time guardians." Before Janna, Lulu, or Debonair could move, he ripped open a portal and dived through it. Turning, the three started walking to meet Lux and Poppy in the middle of the mall.
Determined to prevent as much energy from getting through as possible, Lux quickly threw out a singularity and tried to shatter orbs, but Kog'Maw quickly got most of them out of the way. He then played a game, where he would attack Lux and Poppy, while throwing a few orbs through the open portal. Poppy kept trying to get at Kog'Maw to give Lux a shot, but he kept dodging while sacrificing a few barely filled orbs in the process, keeping the full ones protected.
Lux, desperate to pull out a win, eventually nodded to Poppy and they both set off in an attack together. Kog'Maw seemed to anticipate this, but not what they did. Lux got up close and personal, knocking Kog'Maw with a few bolts from her baton and throwing a binding when she slid past him, and Poppy sent her buckler towards a few of the orbs, which hit one, and then shattering a few with her hammer.
They then switched as Lux threw a singularity while Poppy took a well-aimed hammer shot at a bound Kog'Maw and sent him flying. Kog'Maw landed near the portal he was throwing orbs through and after recovering, he threw a few more through before Poppy charged again, shattering more. Lux threw a barrier around Poppy as Kog'Maw opened up on her with his acid, and Lux threw another binding, but Kog'Maw managed to dodge out of the way.
Growing desperate, Kog'Maw opened up on Lux, who managed to dodge some, but had to shield the rest while Kog'Maw kept up the fire while Poppy circled around. Eventually charging, she managed to knock Kog'Maw off his feet, but had to quickly dodge out of the way as he sent a few acid bombs her way. Lux, who had managed to take some acid when her barrier collapsed, still got up and threw another singularity at the orbs, shattering more, and throwing a binding, correctly guessing the way Kog'Maw would run.
Seeing most of his work either now through the portal or destroyed, Kog'Maw once again started to attack, only to have to avoid another charge from Poppy, but still getting hit with her buckler as she missed. Dodging yet another singularity from Lux, Kog'Maw tore off towards the portal and jumped through it, leaving behind 5 orbs, with almost nothing in them. Sighing, Lux and Poppy quickly broke them and turned to see Kha'Zix had disappeared as well.
As the team regrouped in the center of the mall, Debonair looked around and saw something missing. "I don't mean to probably pick at a sensitive topic right now, but where is your fifth?" The team turned to Lux, who nodded.
"It's a long story. Meet us up on the roof if you want to hear it. I'm going to tell the police and medics that it's clear to come in." Lux turned to look at Debonair who just nodded. The other four fled to the roof while Lux headed outside, to see police had cordoned off the building and Vi was waiting outside. Seeing Lux exit, she smiled.
"Lower weapons, it's over!" She yelled and walked towards the exhausted Guardian. "Tough fight?" She asked, but also noticed Lux was clearly bothered by something form the way she was walking and how she was carrying herself.
"You could say that. They got away with a lot of energy."
"Something wrong?" Vi was now certain that Lux was hiding something. "You are clearly not talking about something." Lux bit her lip and after a few seconds, nodded.
"Yes but not here." Vi nodded and figured that while the Guardian would probably blow her off, at least there was something she was willing to admit.
"Just something for you to chew on until then, if you come. Leaders must never be afraid to ask for help, or to admit mistakes. I know it's bitten me several times. You know where to find me." Vi signaled to the EMS personal on scene, and they rushed in. She turned around to see the Guardian had vanished. Lux in fact, had jumped onto the roof and found the rest of them waiting for her.
"So still want to hear it?" Lux asked Debonair, who merely put his weapon down and nodded. "Ok then here is goes. Our fifth teammate isn't coming back, at least not any time soon. After that last fight with Baron Nashor, yes that is its name, she took off, and hasn't been responding to us."
"I thought you said it was a long story?" Lux, realizing what she said, just shrugged. "I'm assuming you've tried to contact her in multiple ways?" Debonair asked, trying everything to keep his voice neutral.
"Apart from physically forcing her, yes." Poppy said looking at Debonair.
"I hope that you can convince her to come around. Until then, I'll do my best to help you all out, but if you want my suggestion, just give her space. Let her come around. She will. There will be something that clicks with her." And with that, Debonair picked up his weapon, got up, and headed away from the scene. Lux nodded and even smiled a bit.
"Yeah there's always something. Just we need it sooner rather than later." Lux said as she kept her voice low. "Come on, let's get back and we need to have a vote on something." The rest of the team looked at her and nodded." They sprinted back to the tower.
Unknown to the rest of the team, Jinx did in fact see what they did. She was hiding in one of the store fronts facing the center of the mall. When the attack started, she reached for her pendant, only to remember that she threw it aside and she just sat back and watched. Shiro and Kuro, who had joined her, poking Jinx every now and then to make sure she was paying attention. Jinx, annoyed with the two, eventually put them into her backpack, but they still were jumping inside it.
Jinx however, couldn't take her eyes off Lux and the rest of the team. She knew how dangerous it was, and even winced as she saw Janna get slashed, then Lulu. Jinx wanted to jump in, but without her pendant, it was impossible to be anything but a bad idea. Keeping low, she did manage to keep a good enough look over the fight, but once it was over, she saw the team disappear to the roof, and with all of the chaos after the attack she managed to make it up there and she hid behind one of the numerous buildings on the roof.
"Let her come around. She will. There will be something that clicks with her." She heard Debonair finish his advice before she heard him leave. Peeking out from behind the building, she saw Lux's lips move but couldn't make out the words before the team followed Lux off the roof.
Sitting back down, Jinx tried to rationalize it in her head. They were fighting against impossible odds, with constant risk of death, and for what? What did they see that she didn't? What were their motivations? Where did it click for them? Jinx kept turning over the thoughts in her mind before she noticed a police officer coming towards her. Jinx kept her head down as she came close.
"Hey are you ok?" Jinx picked her head up to see the officer.
"Is it over?" Jinx kept her voice scared, which she was.
"Yes. Are you hurt?" Jinx just shook her head. "Just ran when things started going off?" Jinx just nodded in reply. "Well come on, let's get you back down." The officer helped Jinx to her feet and she followed the officer down where Jinx just disappeared into the crowd and made her way home. When she got home, she finally let Shiro and Kuro out and they both just glared at her. Clearly they were angry with her as well, and quickly hopped down and headed out. Now alone, Jinx just sat down in a chair and actually started to think.
At the tower, Dorcha and Solas were looking over the team as Lux finished talking.
"Well, telling Caitlyn and Vi is a huge risk." Dorcha said as she looked between everyone there; the remaining four Guardians, Vel'Koz, and Nasus. "But they might be able to offer advice."
"Except the advice I keep getting is all the same lately." Lux said, letting her frustration creep into her voice.
"Then perhaps it is good advice." Solas said, looking carefully at Lux, who had her head in her hands. "Sometimes the best advice isn't always the easiest to hear. We could always go with the forceful option." He reminded Lux of that fact, which finally got Lux to look up.
"We do that, we just destroy any chance she will find her motivation. We'll use it, but only as an absolute last resort." Everyone nodded. Poppy clearly didn't like the plan, but she also had no choice but to go along with it. Lux then turned to Vel'Koz. "What about the nexuses?"
"Yes, we can head out the site. I would like a little protection while I establish them. I doubt Malzahar will attack again so quickly. He also knows that there is more in it for him if he waits. So we can go when you all are ready." Vel'Koz left that open in case they needed some time to recover from the attack, but one look from everyone told him they were ready. "Ok then, let's go."
They all left the room and got into the long car, which had a trailer behind it. Lux and the rest of the team knew what was inside just from the cold it was radiating. The site was far outside the city and it took some time to get there. The ride itself was rather quiet as the team, still transformed, were checking their phones and reassuring their parents they were studying at the library. The scenery changed outside from plains to forest and after what seemed like forever, Nasus turned off and pulled into what was clearly a long forgotten park.
The team got out and followed Vel'Koz to the trailer which did contain 3 void orbs of energy. Despite it being warm where they were, the area was made cold by the presence of the orbs. The team helped carry them deep into the forest, which seemed to last forever, but eventually the trees ended and Vel'Koz stopped the team as they emerged.
They were in a long path cut from the trees, a gap in front of them went into what looked like more forest with paths, and they were standing between two stone piles. Looking to their right, they saw another pile beyond the first, up a flight of stone stairs. Vel'Koz waved them on and they followed him up the stairs, still carrying the orbs. When they got up, they saw more stone piles and ahead of them, a large stone staircase leading up to what looked like old ruins. There was a large hole behind two of the stone piles and Vel'Koz hovered over to it.
"Place the orbs in here, and we can begin." The team placed the orbs and stepped back. Vel'Koz closed his eye, concentrated, then unleased his void beam onto the orbs, shattering them, but the energy didn't dissipate. After a second, a large red crystal formed around it. They were all amazed, until Lux noticed other things happening. The large red crystal was quickly surrounded by a stone structure where it hovered in the middle. The structure was smooth with what looked like 4 locks that looked like the hilt of a sword. Then the two piles of stone formed themselves into statues, which looked spears with crystal tips.
The team turned to see more of these statues forming, 9 in all, three inside the stone ruins, and 6 in the paths carved in the forest. Then three smaller crystals formed behind the third of these statues in-between the final two and the other 9. They were red, just like the main crystal.
"It is done. Come on." Vel'Koz jolted the team out of their stupor and they followed him down the center path. They could see somewhat into the forest on either side of them it was when they reached the center that they saw a change. The same piles of rubble and a similar stone ruin. They looked to either side and saw bushes that prevented them from seeing clearly on either side and after Janna and Lux looked through them, they saw the river continued until it hit the upper and lower paths. There were also two cutouts on either side of the river, one on each side of the central path.
Vel'Koz gave them a few minutes before heading forward. As they passed piles of rubble, Vel'Koz entered the second ruin, and while there Vel'Koz approached a similar hole in the ground. Turning to Lux, he pointed to the hole. "Please cast your spark down there and you will see what happens. Lux nodded and after a few seconds, jumped into the air.
"Final Spark!" Lux landed back on the ground and after a few seconds, another crystal started to form, this time blue. The structure around it was also different. It was more rugged, but somehow looking strong. Instead of smooth curves and sword style of the red side, this side more resembled the top of a hammer. The statues that formed from the piles on this side however looked more like knights and looked more protective. They had large stone hammers, with the striking edge, being a blue crystal.
"Ok now that we are here, I can explain. I had to search the planet for a location where magic ran strong, but hadn't been corrupted and it led me here. Now that you are standing here, I'm sure none of you have an idea where we are." It wasn't a question as the team looked confused.
"Well then, I'll explain. Magic runs through Runeterra and forms the very blood of the planet. Magic has always been strong in certain areas and weaker in others. In this case, magic has always been strong here, but there has been no need of this place in a long time. It was here that ancient summoners, or mages as they were known back then, battled over the power this place held. Over time, the land remade around these battles and the forest doesn't regrow in some of these places.
"At one point, the battles over this place threatened to tear the planet apart so a final battle was held, which would determine who would control this area. The mages picked their five best champions and fought each other in this area for an hour and a half. Eventually one side emerged victorious as they destroyed the enemy nexus. The battle became renown across the world and others flocked to the site. Eventually this place was being used regularly for sport and entertainment.
"What sealed the fate of this site was when two nations used the magic here, along with their most powerful mages, and warriors, to settle a dispute. The nations respected the outcome, and after a few more uses, the world used this as a determination place for nations in dispute. When the first void war happened, this place was abandoned as nations across Runeterra banded together to heal the world. Places like this were abandoned because it was feared that using them again could tear apart the world, as it was so fragile at the time.
"We will use the energies concentrated here to assist us in protecting this world once again. Because of how we plan to use this place, there is little danger to the world. Should you be victorious, the energies that will be concentrated in this nexus, will spread out and reform the barrier shield around the planet."
"Um ok this may sound stupid but how…" Poppy started but Vel'Koz just held up a tentacle.
"Behind the nexus that rise is called an altar. Behind that is a platform where a group of summoners tomorrow will cast spells to reform the barrier system. However, in order to do this, two things need to happen. First, the current system needs to be destroyed. This will leave us extremely vulnerable so this is the reason we are doing this. We need to tempt Malzahar with a massive energy pool. He can't resist fighting over it.
"The second reason we are doing this is because it needs a lot of energy. The energy, once ready, that is contained in these nexuses is almost overpowering. Lux's spark starts a cycle that once the other nexus is destroyed, this one releases its energy. If channeled correctly, that energy can do incredible things. In the past, it was captured and reused for next battle. Back then however, they used positive and negative energy. In a few days, we will use light and dark. Or good and evil, whatever you prefer."
"Light and dark make more sense." Lux pointed out and the team agreed.
"I guess that would make more sense. The energy however always has to be opposite. I'm told the positive and negative energy related to emotions in the past. But back the point. Tomorrow the summoners will plant the channel to allow the energy, when the opposing void nexus is destroyed, to be channeled into the new barrier system. The energy contained in this nexus will then be used to reinforce that system. This time, it will take Malzahar considerable effort to bring it down. I'm sure you have more questions, but until Jinx returns, there isn't really a good reason to answer them twice." The team nodded in agreement and Lux's face fell again.
"Do you think Malzahar will attack this site before these are ready?" Janna clearly wanted to change the subject as she looked over at Lux.
"He might, but there's more in it for him if he lets the Nexuses mature. Attacking and destroying them now costs him not only the energy, as it will just dissipate even if he has collectors. So it's either wait and potentially get a massive amount of energy, or attack, spend energy, and all we do is start anew. He won't attack. It makes no sense, in any dimension." Vel'Koz sounded very convinced of what he said and that confidence spread to the team, who all nodded again. Even Lux seemed to be a bit happier.
As the team left the field, they all knew one thing, all of the pieces were beginning to fall into place and if they had any chance of succeeding in their objective, they needed Jinx back. Privately, Lux knew that Jinx had to experience something that made this fight personal for her, or see something that makes it personal, and until that happened, she wouldn't be coming back. As they walked back through the forest, Vel'Koz sealed what looked like a magical barrier behind them, and followed them to the car.
Once they were all back inside, Lux pulled out her phone and called Jinx again, but as before, she didn't answer. Lux considered leaving a message, but decided against it. She just sent Jinx a text saying that if she needed to talk, just call or text. As they drove back to the museum, Lux just looked out the window. This wasn't lost on anyone else, but no one said anything because anything that was to be said, had already been said.
"Lux? Do you want us to drop you off at the police station or…" Vel'Koz just let the question hang but Lux shook her head.
"I'll go later tonight. Thanks though." Lux kept her voice up, but she wasn't fooling anyone. When they got back to the museum, everyone got out and Lux just nodded to everyone else, who left. Lux sat down in the tower for a bit before she gathered herself, grabbed a robe, and headed out to the dock. Nasus was still waiting there.
"Want a ride?" Lux just smiled and Nasus nodded. The drive to the station was quiet as Nasus navigated the evening traffic, which was really nothing. "I'll wait for you. Take your time." Lux nodded to him as she got out and headed up the drive and into the station. Lux predicted that Vi would be waiting for her and she was right. Vi was indeed in the lobby and immediately waved Lux over and into the back areas. Lux followed Vi and as she also expected, they wound up in Caitlyn's office, and she was waiting. Vi leaned up against the far wall, while Lux took a seat across from Caitlyn.
"So I understand you are having some issues." Caitlyn was never one to waste time and Lux just nodded as she pulled her hood down. "It wasn't hard to tell that based on the fact you had five the other day and now you have four."
"Yeah, after that fight with Baron, she just quit saying that isn't what she signed up for."
"Wait, did any of you know what you were sighing up for?" Vi asked.
"No. None of us did, but the rest of us are still here." Lux did everything possible to conceal her frustration but Caitlyn surely picked up on it.
"So what have you done to try and get her back?" VI asked, but Caitlyn just shot her a look.
"We're giving her space for now. We can force her to fight, but that probably won't help anything." Lux said as she leaned back in her chair.
"That is probably a good idea. Though judging by the fact you are here, you've heard it already and were looking for another piece of advice." Lux just nodded and Caitlyn smiled. "Let me tell you something about being a leader. You can't just expect things to happen. You have to adapt as you go, and find that one thing that makes everyone want to follow you. Clearly you have found it for everyone, but someone just lost their way. Find where she lost her way, and then lead her back.
"I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. There will be something that breaks everyone. There will be something that will make anyone and everyone question what they are doing. The point of a leader is to make sure they don't break and if they question something, then provide an answer. Even if that answer is I don't know. You are the rock that the team is built on. If you crumble, then they will crumble. If you give up, then they will give up.
"Finally, there is one last piece of advice that I will give you. Never give up. You'd be surprised what will bring people around." Caitlyn finally fell silent as she looked at Lux. She then nodded at Vi, who left the room.
"There is also something I will tell you. If you ever need anything, you can talk to me, considering you probably don't want to talk to your family about this." Lux looked up to see Caitlyn smiled, and Lux, who initially grabbed her baton, let it fall to the ground.
"How long have you known?" Lux asked.
"About you, for a few months now. I had my suspicions since the first mall incident a long time ago. Since then there were just too many coincidences. Don't worry, I'm not telling anyone." Lux stood up and nodded. "I know why you aren't talking to your parents, and I will respect that. But if you need anything just let me know. Also I doubt anyone else will figure it out. Vi doesn't know either. This will be between you and me." Lux smiled and after she raied her hood up, she exited the room and Vi led her back outside.
"Just to add to all of that. Remember that just because someone walked out, doesn't mean they are gone for good. There is always something that brings people back, or at the very least makes them talk." Vi headed back inside and Lux headed to the car. Nasus could tell that something happened, but didn't want to pry, or at least not until Lux said something.
"So Caitlyn knows." Nasus just looked into the mirror.
"Did you really think she wouldn't figure it out?" Nasus asked as he smiled. Looking back at Lux, she was smiling too.
"I guess, but the fact she isn't telling my father is a relief."
"She's smart, and that is why she's a good leader. After all, Piltover still tries and get her back on a regular basis. If she said she'd keep your secret, then you can be sure she will. She is never one to betray trust." Nasus tried to comfort Lux and it was clear he succeeded. Lux relaxed a bit.
"I mean I know eventually my father will figure it out, but until then, this is at least better." Lux said as Nasus brought the car into the dock. Nasus nodded to Lux, who passed him the robe and she powered down, grabbed her back, and headed home. Once she was back in her room, Lux looked up to the moon, knowing all of her problems, but also her answers, were there. Lux finally decided to just let the issue rest and sleep on it. Dorcha and Solas made themselves comfortable as Lux finally drifted off to sleep.
To say that Malzahar was not happy was an understatement. He expected Kog'Maw and Kha'Zix to get more energy form such a crowded place, but they had barely got away with enough to justify the action.
"I am disappointed. This energy will barely be enough. We need a source, a big one, and soon. Now get out of my sight, and be thankful that I'm not taking charge myself." Kog'Maw and Kha'Zix quickly sprinted form the throne room as Malzahar examined the orbs and knew that their energy reserve would not be replenished to the point where he would like it. It was then Malzahar felt a great draw. Looking around, he saw nothing, but then he turned to look out the window at Runeterra.
"You. What have you done?" Malzahar looked closer and he could feel it. A Void nexus countered by a Star Guardian energy nexus. Malzahar, who was barely composed before, now flew off in anger. Vel'Koz was going to use the void energy to rebuild the barriers, which would result in making their work much harder. Malzahar, before he knew it, had smashed several orbs as he stomped around in a rage. He didn't even notice Cho'Gath entering the room.
Seeing what was happening, Cho'Gath acted quickly. He conjured his spikes, knocked Malzahar into the air, roared in his face, then knocked him out. Rek'Sai quickly entered the room and Cho'Gath nodded towards the orbs and Rek'Sai quickly started cataloging them. Cho'Gath then dragged Malzahar to his quarters and waited for him to wake up.
While Malzahar was out, Rek'Sai entered. "He did damage. We were barely positive before, but now, we are just a shade over even. Unless we find a better way to convert energy, we will be out in a few weeks. That would be bad. We need energy and bad."
"There is nothing that can be done without a massive attack. The guardians seem to be able to predict our movements, but given our desperation, it isn't hard. We need to get a massive attack and soon. Start a plan and maybe we will get something soon. That energy nexus will be an issue." Cho'Gath kept his voice calm in the face of desperation and Rek'Sai seemed to relax.
"Why not just attack it now?" Rek'Sai asked as she turned to leave.
"Because, it won't work. The energy will dissipate even if we have collectors there. We attack it before it's ready, then we get nothing except postpone the inevitable. We have to play their game now. They made the move, and we have to be ready when it is time." Cho'Gath knew nexuses well, from the last conflict here where they had failed to stop the summoners from establishing the first barrier system. Rek'Sai nodded and left. Cho'Gath stayed and waited for Malzahar.
A few hours later, Malzahar finally woke up and saw Cho'Gath standing there. "How bad?"
"You made a barely positive gain almost even. We need a large energy input and quickly. We can't wait for the nexus."
"I agree. We will also have to beat those guardians." Malzahar's rage and frustration radiated from him as he formulated a plan. "Our first problem however is that we will need to come up with some energy, and quickly. Attacking the nexus is out of the question. They will only set up another somewhere else and we'll play right into their game. No this time, they made the first step, but that allows us to trip them up. Prepare for a large scale attack. We will empty the Zz reserves, bring minions, and cause as much chaos as possible, in as many places as possible."
"Malzahar I advise caution. We can't afford something like you are thinking." Cho'Gath's voice echoed his nervousness at yet another one of Malzahar's plans.
"On the contrary. I plan 6 simultaneous attacks. That way, the guardians and their helper, will have to go individually to combat it all. If we are lucky, they will be weaker and maybe we can take one or more out before they have a chance to enact their plan." Malzahar looked out the windows of his quarters while Cho'Gath looked annoyed, but his face switched to approval as he thought about the plan.
"The attacks Malzahar must be quick, precise, and at the first sign of trouble, they have to retreat and our resources will have to be refocused. Should we be pushed to the limit, I would suggest summoning baron back early from his healing." Cho'Gath said as he continued to turn the plan over in his mind.
"I agree. I will be out in the field, and you will direct everything." Malzahar turned around and looked at Cho'Gath, who smiled.
"As you wish, Great Prophet." Cho'Gath bowed out, or at least as much as he could. Malzahar smiled as Cho'Gath left because whenever he used "Great Prophet", he agreed with the plan.
"This time, we will hit those guardians and they won't recover." Malzahar laughed as he turned to look again out his windows at Runeterra.