(5 years later)

Scared, angry, agitated.

Each hit was driving her instincts into wild arrays of crazed behaviors and thoughts.

She struggled and flailed from the restraints holding her wrists captive. With a grunt, the twelve year old gritted her teeth.

Whack.

The reed was digging deep into the toned back muscles. Blood streaming down her lower lumbar.

Whack.

She closed her eyes and took a sharp breath.

Whack.

"Show no pain!" The officer bellowed, reeling his arm back. The reed covered in blood and splinters. "You are a soilder of Demacia!"

Well not technically, The girl thought to herself.

"You will show no pain during this judgement!"

Whack.

She bit her cheek and focused her eyes to the massive gargoyles that stared at her from the palace walls.

Whack.

How long have those statues been there?

Whack.

This hit bit into an open wound. She fought back a growl and dug her nails into her palm, keeping her eyes locked to the stone creatures.

WHACK!

She did not waiver at the last hit. Sweat beaded at her forehead and it dripped to her nose. Her brother rushed to her and frantically, pulling off the restraints as the officer left.

"Asshole." The sixteen year old muttered. His blonde hair reflecting off the sunlight. His sapphire eyes locked onto his sisters, worry clearly taking over in his irises.

"If he thinks that will stop me."She growled warningly. Her eyes digging daggers into the man's armored back as he sauntered out of the courtyard. "He is sorrowfully mistaken." She carefully bent to grab her leather tunic that was thrown to the courtyard tiles. She winced slightly as she stood straight.

"Dakota," The boy warned placing a steadying hand on her waist to help her move forward. "Maybe you should let the soilders deal with the beggars."

Dakota scoffed.

"They torture the poor things, Elric." The girl snapped throwing her brother's hand away. "Demacia is all high and mighty until someone is begging for food." Dakota spat onto the pavement. "Now help me pull this bloody thing on. I don't want Abby or Matais seeing my back. One look and it'll be a witch hunt." Dakota threw the tunic at his chest. He shook his head in disapproval.

He sighed.

He rolled up the tunic arms. "Arms above your head, Dakota."

His sister obliged the cool leather touched her shoulders and a shiver ran down her spine making the fresh wounds sting. She hissed after a sharp breath, as the leather was placed onto the still bleeding reed reached for the leather ties at her neck and then decided against it as her back stung at the movement.

She gritted her teeth as she strode out of the courtyard. The two kept silent as they walked their way toward their barracks. The Demacian streets were nothing like upper city Piltover. Instead of having star rods to illuminate their street ways they had lanterns that turned on with gases and a man walking in stilts igniting the wicks. The roadways weren't cobbled but were paved with brick and cement. Not a single Hexmobile was seen, unlike the upper city where only the elite had hexmobiles. Carriages with horses and oxen took over the roads and paths. Markets sang with scents that aroused anyone's nose who passed by. Stalls were littered along the walkways, trying to heckle anyone into buying something. Soldiers would pass each other by. Some would salute in respect to the others rank, some would nod at each other, a silent gesture of camaraderie. They entered into the barracks in the royal center.

The military base was placed near the city center in Demacia's capital. The base shared the location of the Lightshield palace. Every once in a blue moon, you can see the crowned king and prince observing their hard working soldiers as they trained tirelessly. Piltover company however had their fifty one barracks placed at the outskirts of the military base. Their buildings almost like shacks compared to the stone and brick monuments the Demacians were housed in.

Dakota pushed through the door of the fifty first barracks. It was a long buidling that opened up to a long row of twelve beds. At the foot of each bed there were royal blue footlockers with Piltover's emblem painted on the top. Every bed was made to the specifications of military life. Sheets were held so tight you could bounce a Demacian gold piece off the surface.

On the far bed was Alexander Preston, a fourteen year old with the cockiest smile in all of Valoran plastered to his face, scuffing his combat boots to a perfect shine. Across from him, was his seventeen year old sister, Abbigail, who was aggressively doing the same. Matais, the eldest of the bunch at the age of eighteen, was invested as he leaned in to get a better look as Alexander placed the finished polished boot onto his foot locker, rasing his eyebrow at his sister. Abbie swore under her breath and reached into her pocket and slapped down gold coins on her foot locker. Alex got to his feet and cockily put his hands behind his head and reached for the gold coins.

Abbigail launched herself at the boy and wrapped her tawny arms around his neck. Matais fell to his back holding his stomach as his laugh shook the barracks.

Alexander growled as he clawed at his sister's arms.

"Nu uh brat,"Abbie called out playfully. Her right arm came up and she maneuvered the teenager so that his face was pressed against her abdomen. She placed her fist onto the top of Alex's head and nuggied the boy who squirmed helplessly in his sister's iron like grip. The freckles at her cheeks bunched together with her crinkled chocolate eyes. Her rose coloured hair tied in a tight bun, bounced with her laughter. She had a tall figure with toned muscles around her body.

Alex grimaced and slipped from his sister's grasp. His fiery hair was cut short to military standards. He was at least a few inches shorter then Abbigail, but everyone knew by the time he was fifteen he'd be at least a foot taller then his sister. He glared at his sister with mud coloured eyes and scoffed.

"You're just salty cause I'm the fastest." His wide grin going back into a cocky side smile.

Abbie chuckled, "That ain't something to be proud of, shrimp."

When they had met, Dakota was terrified of the two street kids. She was ten and the youngest of the unit. Abbie and Alex were scrappy and didn't want to conform to the Demacian way of life. The two were inseparable and quiet, only keeping to themselves and if anyone crossed them the wrong way they were beaten to a pulp. Abbie was one of the strongest amateur fighters Dakota had ever witnessed. Alex was a close second. They were both lanky and skinny, easy to escape sticky situations, but when they were hit they knew how to take it.

They didn't warm up to anyone, in fact one guy got too curious and suffered a fractured skull and femur, when he tried to introduce himself to the siblings.

The only thing that got the two out of their shells was fighting.

Dakota was still learning the basics to close quarter combat. Elric would talk through stances and strikes when she would practice during the weekends. The two would spar tirelessly. One day during their spar, the Prestons had walked in curious of the sounds of fighting. Abbie had scoffed and told Elric that he sucked, making Elric's ego flatten. Eventually Abbie took control of the situation and showed the Sampsons the trick to being up close and personal. The Prestons and Sampsons became thick as thieves and were a force to be reckoned with.

The door burst open, bringing Dakota out of the memory. Her body snapped taught as the commander enered into the room. She winced at her stinging back, but ignored it as they all stood to attention. Their hands all up to their brows in a salute.

The commander looked over the young soldiers and nodded his approval.

"At ease, fifty first." With well oiled discipline the five teenagers put their hands behind ther backs and looked to their commander.

"Tensions are rising on the borders again."The commander stepped toward his troops. "I know the fifty first is short on soldiers, but the Demacians need your expertise."

No, Dakota thought to herself as her head snapped to her sixteen year old brother. Gods No, not him, Not Elric. Please.

"Anyone at the age of sixteen or older will be going to the front lines to help relieve the pressure. Anyone younger then sixteen will be assisting the medics. You will be briefed tomorrow at o'six hundred then you will be deployed. Prepare for battle."

(1 week later)

She hefted the body onto her back. Her light armor was starting to weigh her down. Her leather boots gripped into the muddy ground. Blood was all over her, it was never her own, only the ones she dragged off the battlefields.

There had been seven charges since they'd been here. Both Demacians and Noxians had lost great numbers, multiple times Dakota would rush back to Camp and sob into her brother's shoulder relieved he had survived. She would witness Alex doing the same as Abbie would return with a cocky grin on her tan face and her staff bloodied and dented. Matais would then enter into the tent covered in dirt and crystal dust from the mages using shards of crystals to hold off the Noxian fronts. All of them would be exhausted and happy they would live another day. All of them would sleep on each other's shoulders and awake to the same routine.

Prepare for battle.

Pray to whatever gods you believed in and say your partial goodbyes.

She threw the lifeless corpse to the head medic as she popped into the tent. The man's face was half gone from some swipe of a sharp blade. He had bled out, nothing she could have done to save the soul. The medic nodded to the girl and gave out the next coordinates. She passed by Alex as she left the tent. On his shoulder was a woman in her early twenties with a gash across her knee and hamstrings. Alex grunted a welcome and Dakota did the same. She grabbed the canteen that was strapped to her hip taking a large gulp of water before heading off into the smoke of battle.

It wasn't long until she got close to the scene, when she heard the screams. The sounds of swords going into heavily armored guts, or the sound of someone overpowering them. She had to be at the front lines.

She felt the hand before she knew someone was there. The hand grasped at her ankles. She looked down to the injured soldier. A throwing knife was lodged into his chest and he was having a hard time breathing. She bent down to him pulling out the field bandages and trying to compress the wound like they told her, trying not to aggravate the knife from getting lodged further.

He grabbed her by the collar with a harsh strength that a dying man should not posses.

"They haven't finished their attack." He wheezed. "They'll be pushing forward any minute now, get your comrades out of here." His hand began to loosen it's grip. "I was... a... runner...just ...like...you..." He managed through shallow breaths. "Please make it quick, young one." He gasped taking Dakota's hand and pushing the blade deeper into his chest. The mans eyes widened and with a final breath he stopped moving.

Dakota was mortified.

Her pulse quickened and her sight began to fuzz at the edge. She was only a child, why must she take part in such horrendous activities.

Then she heard a familiar cry. A familiar shout of help. A familiar voice that made her entire body freeze.

She snapped out of her revelry, grabbed the throwing knife from the dead man's chest and sprinted into the direction of the cry.

"ELRIC!" She screamed, praying to the gods for her brother to call back.

"DAKOTA!" His scream was bloodcurdling.

She broke through the smoke into a clearing with bodies everywhere. Deteriorating flags whipping into the battle continued with both forces in a clash of blades and death.

But what caught her attention was her brother being pinned to the mud by a noxian soilder twice his size. Her blood boiled as her brother tried to throw the hulk of a man. They were in a desperate struggle as the man tried to run a sword through Elric's throat.

Dakota tightened her grip on the throwing knife and ran full tilt into the unsuspecting Noxian. She grabbed the man's neck with her small arms and tried to keep a tight grip to suffocate the man. With a war cry worthy of any warrior she plunged the knife into the man's jugular. His hands came up clawing at her as the blood gurgled from his mouth and spewed all over the black plated armor. Dakota screamed and pulled the dying man backwards and onto his back.

War cries echoed out as drums beat their war songs. Dakota looked at the man she killed, her icy blue hues looking into the empty pits of the enemy. She could feel her brother try to shake her out of her hypnosis.

"There's more coming." She spoke with a soft monotone voice. Her eyes observed the battlefield, every person was struggling in a dance of death.

It was the oncoming battle cries of hundreds running into a fray that brought Dakota back to the current reality. Demacians froze as they watched the charge thunder toward them. The sounds of the commanders unleashing orders were almost drowned out by the mighty Noxians screaming their minds off as they crashed into the front lines. Shields were raised in time as the Demacians prepared themselves in a defensive formation. Shiltrons and spears raised and pierced thick armor, holding back the massive waves of the crazed warriors. Why wasn't anyone coming to support them? Why wasn't their a second charge to answer to the Noxian attack?

"They need to fall back, Elric." She realized with urgency . "The Demacians are going to get trampled down if another wave comes in like that again. Find the Captain and tell them to fall back fast."

Dakota took quick steps backwards as she prepared to sprint back to the defensive lines.

"Where are you going?" Elric called out.

"To relay the message!" She called back. "Get them back to the trenches!"

She turned on her heels and launched herself over fallen bodies. She leaped over barbed wire and fox holes and slid into the defensive trench with madness in her eyes. Soldiers tried to grab her arms to steady the girl who was spewing out warnings to prepare for an attack.

One of them grabbed her head with both his hands and shook the child. Reacting on instinct the girl lashed out hitting the soldier in the nose with a fast strike. She dodged out of the way of others trying to detain the girl. Just as she approached the commander's headquarters that were dug out from the trench wall she was tackled down hard.

"Get off of me!" She screeched digging her nails into the soldiers eyes. "Commander!"

Someone hit her, she gasped in pain as they pressed themselves onto her still raw back from the cane marks. Dakota howled in pain and threw the unsuspecting soldier off of her. As she got back up she slammed into a heavily armored man.

With an "oof" Dakota fell to her bottom and looked up to the man.

"What in the seven void hells is going on here?" He questioned his eyes digging into the girl who wiped the blood from her nose.

"Sir," She replied swallowing hard." A second charge of Noxians is starting to over power the front lines. My brother is informing the captain of the front lines to fall back to defensive lines. If we do this we can regain our wits and take out the remaining Noxian charge. It's a tactical withdrawal that will save many lives and help us win this battle."

The commander raised an eyebrow to the girl. Then nodded thoughtfully.

"Prepare for oncoming forces!" The comander bellowed. "Anderson, get your men over the wall and set up your shiltron defenses. Yord get the medics prepared for an intake."

Like a well oiled machine the Demacians prepared for the oncoming attack. Within five minutes the soldiers that were falling back were in view.

"READY YOURSELVES!" The commander ordered over the colossol sound of swords clashing with wood and metal. "Forward!" With a deafening roar that rivaled the Noxian charge the Demacians pushed themselves over the wall and slammed into the Noxian line.

(2 years later)

She blew the smoke out from her thin lips. The autumn wind bit through her leather jacket and she shivered internally.

"Jesus Cupcake, we couldn't have done this on the streets?" She questioned taking another long drag from her cigarette.

"No," Was the quick reply. The sheriff was prone on the skyscraper's ledge. Her Hextech sights whirred and clicked into place as she zoned in to the targeted windows. Her finger went to the safety and switched it off. She chambered the round and Vi smiled devilishly.

Cait was in the mood to kick ass.

She squished the butt of the cigarette at the bottom of her boot. She reached into her pockets and pulled out the wraps. With precision and practice Vi wrapped her knuckles and then kneeled to her babies. Her hands slid into the metal fists and the steam sighed in relief. Vi chuckled darkly as her metal fingers rolled easily into fists. The new oil Jayce recommended definitely made a difference.

"Let's kick some mob boss ass," Vi growled her fists slammed into her other metallic palm.

Caitlyn nodded behind the scope. "All units, prepare for unleash. Over." The radio crackled with acknowledged replies. "Vi, please stick to the plan on this one."Her voice was uncharacteristically pleading.

Vi's eyebrows knit together. "Cait, you ok?" Caitlyn then turned her attention to Vi, a small smile splayed on her lips.

"This is an important mission , Vi. These men have ties to C. If one thing goes wrong the future of Piltover to could be affected gravely. We need to ensure that these men get their taste of harsh justice and questioning."

Vi slapped on a cocky smile. "No worries Cupcake. You can count on me. These dirt bags aren't going anywhere." With that, Vi had pushed through the massive roof door and disappeared down the long flights of steps.

Caitlyn sighed. Caitlyn looked to the pinks and oranges of the early morning sky. Piltovian doves cooed to their flocks as they perched themselves on the ledges beside her. She was in her all black attire. Her black cargo pants, and long sleeved shirt helped hide her among the Goliath of the skyscrapers. She pulled the black scarf over her face. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the photograph of early times.

It was a picture of Dakota on her fifth birthday. I wide grin plastered on her cake covered lips. Beside her was the mop of blonde hair that was her older brother who had his arm around her neck. Behind them was Caitlyn and Sarah. Caitlyn had been in her Police regalia, her sheriff's badge glowing as brightly as her smile. Her lithe hand rested on Dakota's small shoulder and Elric's blonde hair.

"Happy Birthday, love." She whispered to the photograph.

"Unleash is in position. Over" A voice crackled over the communicator.

"And ready to kick ass." Vi screamed through the radio.

Caitlyn couldn't help but chuckle. She cleared her throat. "Operation Unleash is a go."Caitlyn ordered. "Phase one to commence."

Her eyes then went to the sights. The target was facing the window. A crystal glass of Ionian fire water was in his massive hands. He was in a white dress shirt with a grey vest. At his neck was a white cravat with a gold broach of a shackled hand.

"Our target is located on the fourth floor, in front of the bay window. He is in a grey vest and has sandy shoulder length hair. He is accompanied by three guards. Unleash prepare for first rounds. After the signal enter with restraint. Do not kill our target. He has valuable information. Over." Caitlyn commanded through the radio.

"Roger that Cupcake."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

"Phase two will begin in three," He fingers went to the trigger."Two," She dragged the muzzle to the first guard, easily setting up for a clean shot. "One."

Boom.

Caitlyn took the kick of the rifle using it's momentum to pull back the lever, the bullet casing falling beside her. The next bullet was chambered in a matter of milliseconds. Her eyes already scanning for the next guard. They looked frightened. They covered over the target. The one she had her sights on, looked to the skyscraper his rifle up and ready to fire. She squeezed the trigger.

Boom.

"Too slow," Caitlyn snarled, rechambering the next round.

She went back to the sights and watched as the final guard stood up. He was in a defensive stance. He had a mean looking hexpistol pointed toward the door.

She watched as plaster flew in his direction. He ducked out of the way and then was grabbed by metal fists. Caitlyn watched as the man sailed out of the window. His screams echoed and then suddenly stopped as he smashed into the streets below.

Caitlyn sighed.

"Don't you think that was a bit excessive Vi," She said through the communicator, as she watched her other officers swarm the Target.

'Gotta put the fear of Gods in them somehow, right Fuckface?"Caitlyn could hear the whimpering of the mob boss from Vi's end of the radio. "Yeah he agrees. I say we go to The Split Crow. First round's on me boys!"

Caitlyn palmed her face. "Just get him to the prison, before more of his croonies happen upon us taking him in custody."

"Yeah yeah,"Vi dismissed through the communicator.

A soudn then caught Caitlyn's attention. She stood up from her prone position, raising her rifle up to get a better view.

"What in the void?" Caitlyn whispered.

What she saw made her entire body freeze. A blue haired girl as thin as paper was on top of a rocket surrounded by at least twelve other rockets as big as hexmobiles, flying toward Piltover. Caitlyn's icy eyes widened.

"Oh bloody hell!" She went to the communicator at her ear. "Vi get everyone out of there Now!" She screamed.

"Cupcake what's going on?"

"Get the bloody hell out of there! The City is being attacked." Caitlyn strapped the rifle to her back and sprinted to the massive door. She pulled at it but the door wouldn't budge. "Damnit!"

She looked to the blue haired maniac who was fast approaching toward the city. She took a deep breath. She pulled the rifle off her back and took to the scope. The whirring and clacking of gears set her heart into a calming beat and she pulled back the bolt.

Boom.

She watched the girl take the hit. The girl clasped her shoulder. Her maniacal laugh louder then the roar of the fast approaching rockets. The girl grabbed a massive machine gun from behind her, the gun already rotating.

Caitlyn's eyes widened and she rolled out of the way of the pepper of bullets.

The explosions were deafening. The sound of granite and metal screeching as buildings began to topple. Caitlyn watched in horror as the tower that Vi was in collapsed slowly.

"Vi!" The sheriff's scream was bloodcurdling.

"If you think that was amazing, you should see what I have got in store Miss Hat Lady." Caitlyn turned to the squeaky voice. The blue braids flew from the massive aftershocks of buildings collapsing around the two marksmen. The girl was covered in belts and tattoos. "I wonder if Fat hands is ok. She seems like she could take a few hits of those without a scratch."

"Who are you?" Caitlyn demanded, her hands already working to chamber the next round.

"They call me Jinx. And I'm here cause I'm bored and your city needs some touch ups. I do have to say though hat lady, your aim is quite impeccable. That shot stung. But you're gonna have to do better then that to get me."

Caitlyn was ... confused. She didn't even know. She just looked at the girl with an eyebrow raised.

"Well with out any further adieu."The girl popped up a shark looking weapon."I'd like you to meet Fishbones! BOOOOOOOM!"