CHAPTER I
"It's right over here, sir", the small frame called back into the darkness.
Vi followed the footsteps of her second in command as they navigated through the dimly-lit hallway. Metal footsteps reverberated through the walls as they made their way to the heart of the facility.
The pair approached the stairs leading to the main door. As tradition dictates, the leading soldier stopped at the foot of the stairs, turned to face her superior, and saluted.
"At ease, Ren." Vi blurted. "You know I'm not big on ceremony."
"But sir…" the young soldier attempted to quip back, quickly halting her protests as she met her commanding officer's gaze.
"Yes, Vi."
Vi rested one hand on her soldier's back, spun her towards the door and gently pushed her forward towards the top of the stairs.
"In 516, we are all equal. Remember that. Keep the formalities to the dinner parties." Vi slowly pulled her hand from her officer's back and allowed her to climb the stairs on her own. Two soldiers at the top of the stairs saluted them eagerly.
"You two idiots remember that too." Vi said as she passed the soldiers.
"Yes, mom." one of them replied jokingly.
The women stepped across the doorway. Operation Eclipse was at the final stage.
516. The prison numbers Vi repurposed for her black ops team, at the behest and approval of Sheriff Caitlyn. Want rose to purpose. Purpose rose to need. The terrorist events of J-Day nine years ago demanded accountability from Zaun. With the hextech powered nuclear blast, Jinx single-handedly gave the lower-class hope while striking fear into those that thought themselves to hold station in society above their fellow citizens.
"Report, soldier." Vi commanded while taking a survey of the room. Fishing nets, bait traps, and wires littered the walls as a small wooden table centered the room. Various pieces of electronics were scattered about as the makeshift operation headquarters hummed quietly into the night.
"The explosives are in place.", the tiny voice muttered into the air.
"72 devices installed on 12 sections of the sungates. 250kg of hex…"
Vi threw her hand up to stop her mid-sentence.
"Ren. We've talked about this. Abstract numbers to complete a solid theory is good. I need you to report on the numbers that matter. How many casualties?"
VI placed her young soldier in a spot. Ren was no longer that little girl sobbing uncontrollably in front of her father's grave - nameless and headless, the burial of a traitor. Cait and Vi adopted Ren, and with their guidance, she rose the ranks to the top of her class; the youngest Magna Cum Laude graduate in the history of the academy. Driven by the loss of a parent in the line of duty and a desire for revenge, she became what she was destined to be: a living tribute to the best qualities of her father, Marcus.
It was always difficult for Vi, who knew Ren was orphaned by her sister. Vi realized the best way to guide her through her rage and keep her close was to offer her a position under her at 516 after graduation.
Ren composed herself, slowly. And began again.
"Maximum casualties, fourteen civilians."
"Fourteen. Good. Assessment?" Vi asked.
Ren parted her Auburn hair behind her ears and looked down at her notes.
"Port authorities were bribed as instructed. They didn't question the documents forged with Sevika's signature. They believe there is a confidential shipment of goods coming through the canal that requires discrepancy. They have opened the sungates at the angles requested and vacated their workers. Once the gates are destroyed, they will collapse into the docks and incapacitate Zaun's only access to the outside world."
"That's very good Ren, but I asked…"
"...unfortunately, we have to account for the street urchins. Environmental factors make the docks uninhabitable for long periods, but they find a way to carve out a life in these conditions. We've cleared as many as we could, but there's a high probability we didn't find them all."
Vi turned to the young woman, pulled a nearby chair and sat down to rest her feet. She leaned forward, cupped her hands over her legs and looked her cadet in the eyes.
"Are fourteen casualties an acceptable number?" she asked with the tone of authority only reserved for parental figures.
Ren closed her notebook, and looked down. Rays from the moon pierced through the window, reflecting the 516 insignia on her chest.
"No, Vi. The acceptable number of casualties is zero. Always. But this mission is too important. What we do here may save thousands. It will end the war."
"What if that was me on the docks? Or Cait? Would you be able to give the all-clear signal?
"I…."
Ren's eyes moved from her chest to her feet, unsure of how to answer.
"Ren, look at me." Vi said, softening her voice. She realized the question was unfair. In this world, however, fair answers to fair questions did not exist.
"We are all numbers to someone else, but those numbers have faces. Like me. And you. Fourteen is a good start. We have an hour. What can we do to get these numbers down?"
Ren looked up quizzically, resting her index finger on her bottom lip.
"Alpha is guarding the North-East section of the port, but it's not a critical role. We can redirect them to Delta's sector where most of the perishable goods are stored. There's a better chance of finding stragglers next to the food containers than anywhere else."
"And what will you do once you find them?"
"Well, we'll tell them it's not safe and escort them to…"
"And when they refuse to go?"
"Well… we'll just forc..."
Vi held up her left hand, signaling a pause to the conversation. She reached into her breast pocket with her right.
"Take this." Vi said, handing over a small bag to Ren.
"Find one urchin. Give them one coin. Tell them to round up all their friends in the docks and meet you at the south gates in an hour. Let them know you need a large job done, and you can only use people that are intimately familiar with the layout of the ports."
"Promise 10 coins for every person that meets you there. It should be more than they would make hauling stolen goods tonight. Let them see your insignia; they'll know what it means. Once they're outside the gates, tell them the job has been cancelled, but pay them the agreed amount."
Ren nodded in agreement.
"Vi…" Ren responded, slowly "...what happens when they find out we destroyed the port?"
Vi's face turned stern. She peered outside the window to catch a glimpse of the sungates, perhaps for the last time.
"I don't know.", Vi conceded.
Vi turned to face her disciple again. "Ren, you have your orders. Get the numbers down."
Ren knew better than to waste time when lives were at stake. She walked to the corner and began gearing up to do as her commander instructed.
From the window emerged a single green light. Shaped like a firelight, humming a mechanical tune.
"Shit."
CHAPTER II
One became two. Two became four. Four became eight. Tiny lights burst into the room, multiplying in extraordinary numbers. A cross-section of scattered green swatches reigned over the shadows for dominance in the space. Vi's eyes shifted towards Ren. The mechanical insects gleefully pestered her daughter, weaving around her face while elegantly dodging her outstretched hands.
"She really shouldn't do that.", a familiar voice called from the shadows. "She might need her limbs if she wants her day of retribution..."
"Ren, STOP!" Vi shouted from across the room in desperation. "DON'T MOVE".
Vi's voice pierced through the humming and reached Ren's ears. She immediately lowered her hands and stood still as her commander instructed.
"ENOUGH. PARLEY", Vi shouted to the shadows.
"Parley", the shadow responded softly.
"Is that…" Ren began to speak, her voice trembling as she assessed the situation unfolding before her.
"Ren, it's going to be O.K.", Vi motioned for the young girl and pointed to her gear. "Grab your gear and go. You know what to do. Tell the team to stand down until they no longer see the lights. If something happens to me, the mission goes on as planned. Do you understand?"
"Vi, I…"
"Ren, NOW!" Vi's tone sent shivers up the young woman's spine, freezing her in a state of panic. Vi recognized that tone before. Remnants of when she used it with Powder.
"Ren, please…" Vi said catching herself and speaking not as a commander, but a guardian. "She won't hurt me. Please, go." Vi tried to convey confidence, but internally she had no idea of what would come next.
Ren walked slowly to her gear and picked it up from the table. The mechanical pests parted between her and the door, giving her no further grounds to roam the room. Ren made her way to the exit, still trying to make sense of it all.
Her adopted mother's life was in the same hands that took her father. She looked back at her commander's face to try to gauge the situation. Was there a subliminal message in what Vi said? Were there orders hidden within the orders that she was given?
As she scanned Vi's face, she looked for hope and determination, but was met with regret and sorrow.
Ren closed the door and followed her orders.
"Are we still sisters?" the voice called out from the shadows.
"Nothing will ever change that." Vi replied coldly.
The loud snap of a finger brought the firelights to a resounding halt. Slowly, they made their way to opposite corners of the room, revealing a familiar slender frame center stage, blue pigtails swinging in unison. Vi stared at the face of the woman she knew as her sister. Jinx's shimmer-filled purple retinas warded off the green haze from the firelights.
Jinx pulled up a seat to the table and put her feet up, settling her body for what would be the first conversation she's had with her sister since J-Day.
"Cute kid. Reminds me of someone, I just can't put my finger on it…" Jinx smiled.
"Leave her out of this." Vi replied defensively. "What do you want?"
"Can't a girl visit her favorite big sister?" Jinx replied slyly. "Catch up? Crochet? Talk about boys… and girls?"
"Jinx, I don't have time for this. I don't have to explain to you what you've interrupted; you know. You can kill me, but it won't stop this mission. There are countermeasures in place..."
"I'm not here to kill you. Or stop your boring little mission. I gotta give the kid credit. She's done masterful work with the explosives. Almost as good as me at her age."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'll get to that... but first, indulge me with some small talk. How's Auntie Cait? Still bitchy as ever?"
"Cait is fine. She's been busy. We all have."
"Ah... that's why I don't see her in the playground after school anymore. Too bad, she was always fun."
"Vi, why did your sister blow up the council?" Jinx asked mockingly with a terrible Caitlyn accent.
"Vi, why did your sister kidnap those puppies? Why must she kidnap small animals at all? It's very unlady-like!"
"Vi, I think your sister stole mother's underpants AGAIN!?"
Jinx rolled her eyes and stuck a finger in her mouth to simulate retching at the thought of her sister-in-law.
"Please tell her I hope she dies in a horrible, fiery death. Also, thank her for the gift basket. The potpourri was lovely."
"...she didn't… give you anything Jinx… you stole it when you kidnapped her from her own bathroom..."
"...oh I know. But thank her anyways."
"I'll pass the message along." Vi closed her eyes and massaged her forehead in an attempt to maintain composure.
Vi slowly opened her eyes and centered her vision on her sister.
"Fine, Jinx. You want to play this game? Let's play." Vi said calmly.
How's Ekko?", the words shot out of Vi's mouth like venom across the room, hoping to catch her sister off-balance.
The smile on Jinx's face shifted from that of mischief to content. "He's doing well. I guess I have you, Auntie Cait and Supreme Emperor God Child Jayce to thank for that."
"I still don't understand how…" Vi replied before being cut off.
"It's simple. After the blast, Ekko was hell-bent on finding me." Jinx began. "More than you and Auntie Cait. He's way better at it. It's harder playing hide and seek with someone that knows all your best hidey holes."
Jinx removed her feet from the table and placed them on the floor.
"In his little do-gooder head, he thought handing me over to Jayce would have saved the day."
"Unfortunately for him…" Jinx looked up at the table and stared into her sister's eyes before continuing.
"...you silly little idiots decided to send big tin men with little tin cans and big bright matches to burn the little man's great big tree down to little bright ashes."
Vi's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't ready for this.
"It wasn't… we didn't… they were there to help the refugees." Vi blurted, sensing herself holding back tears. "We didn't plan on burning the sanctuary down… I don't know what happened, the reports…"
"The reports?" Jinx laughed at the suggestion. "I see you're still getting high on your own cupcake-infused farts".
"Did the reports say how sad baby Jayce was when his little council of do-nothings went up in flames? And I thought I changed, but whoo boy I didn't really see that one coming. Well, mainly because I thought he was dead. But also because I didn't think Zombie Jayce would be so... grumpy."
"What are you getting at Jinx?" Vi tapped on the table.
"That bomb I set off; it was aimed at their heart. After it detonated, Jayce couldn't tell the difference between Ekko and Auntie Sevika. In his head, we're all either good little Piltovians or evil, dirty little Zaunists."
"He wanted revenge. So, he tried to hit what he thought was the heart of Zaun. If the man-child of progress wasn't so full of himself, he would have realized he could have burned down all of Zaun but the heart would live on."
"It's Ekko. It's always been Ekko." Jinx took on a reserved voice.
"The sanctuary was always a place for him and his glowy friends to lay their heads down, but it wasn't what made it special. He was."
"But that still doesn't explain…" Vi stated
"How he got me to join him? He didn't. He's more sentimental about things than I am. HIs clubhouse burned and I was all out of peek-a-boos. So, I let him catch me. He was still angry. But he knew handing me over to Piltover was useless. The situation was too…"
Jinx raised her fist and slowly opened her fingers simulating an explosion while mouthing the word "poof".
"He talked to me. Told me what he had to do to rebuild. Asked for my help."
"Why would he ask for your help? You're…"
"...a Jinx? I know. But what I am and who I am are separate things. Like frosting. And marbles."
"I still don't understand how you agreed to this?"
"My calendar was… suddenly open after the council went 'kablooey'. Ekko indulged me with his useless, although I must admit, highly entertaining chase. Once that was gone, I found myself out of fun things to do. A mopey Ekko's really no fun at all."
"And you trust him?"
Jinx paused for a second, contemplating her next words.
"I… don't need to. He trusts me. And that's enough." she replied quietly while playing with the ends of her pigtail.
"The boy savior…" Jinx continued, smile growing wider.
"...he didn't try to coddle or rescue me, like you did. He didn't try to keep me to his little lonesome like Silco did, either. He just asked me. Like I was a... normal person. Then he gave me space to decide if I was going to assist him or stab him in his cute little face. I went with option A, but trust me, it wasn't easy. Those dimples are just the stabbiest things…. super stabby… just… "
Jinx made little playful stabby motions in the air. Her pantomimes didn't suggest anger or malice, but instead affection and care.
Vi sat back in admiration and disbelief, soaking this all in.
"Who could have imagined… after all these years… all it took…" Vi began.
"...was an echo for me to find my voice in an ocean drowning full of noise." Jinx finished.
For the first time since she could remember, Vi looked at her sister not with regret, but hope. The woman at the heart of the conflict; labeled as irredeemable by many, including herself, was now flustered at the thought of feelings for another.
For a moment in time, Vi, Jinx and Powder did not exist. All that remained were two sisters having a normal conversation about a crush.
"I'm… happy for you, sis", Vi said warmly. Jinx's cheeks flushed lightly with embarrassment. She quietly nodded as she twirled her pigtail between her middle and index finger.
"Vi, there's something I need to tell you…"
"Here we go." thought Vi. She knew this moment was too good to last.
"You have to kill this mission."
Vi rested her forehead between her index finger and thumb.
"I knew it. I thought you said you weren't here to stop the mission."
"I told you, I'm not. It has to be you. You need to bury it."
"And why would I do that?" Vi sat back in her chair and crossed her arms waiting for the reveal.
"..because of Ren, your mini-pow-pow."
CHAPTER III
Vi's eyebrows lowered like shades on a window. Her eyes narrowed across the room to Jinx. She wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but if it was a threat to Ren, she would need to prepare herself to take action.
"...she's off. Not... "me", off; at least not yet. Her calculations are off, that is. The gates are positioned properly, which is the most challenging part. But her explosive numbers are off, by a fraction. Wouldn't be a big deal if they were little 'booms', but with the large 'boom' you're planning…"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you fucked up trusting a cadet to handle the math. She's gifted, obviously. She did the work of 6 scientists on her own in 1/6th of the time and 1/16th of the resources. But if you detonate, her casualties won't be fourteen. It will be somewhere in the ballpark of fourteen million. The reverberation from the explosion will be enough to collapse the inner columns, bringing Piltover down on Zaun's head."
Vi started to laugh nervously. She didn't know whether Jinx was telling the truth about the numbers, but deep down she realized she was right about the fuck-up. In her efforts to make amends for shielding Powder from so much of the world, she gave Ren too many responsibilities, too soon.
"Why should I believe you, Jinx? Why should I believe that you, of all people, would want to stop anything from blowing up? You caused all of this the moment you launched a rocket into the council chambers!"
"Vi… this was always going to happen. This war. The only thing the rocket did was skip the boring part where the benevolent council goes 'blah blah equality blah blah peace' and get to the real reason we're all here: to kill each other over little glowy blue rocks until there's nothing left but ash and amber."
"THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ZAUN INDEPENDENCE" Vi screamed as she pounded the table.
"Independence? What would that look like Vi? You think that after everything that happened, we would have just held hands and skipped rope over the rainbow? How long until our Piltover "friends" realize that their boots were being licked faster when they were resting 2 inches from our lips? How long until they notice the secret sauce in the wine wasn't from the fancy Piltover orchards but from the residual flesh of the limbs caramelized in the machinery?"
"I... I don't remember you being so ideological." Vi paused, searching for the right words for her next question.
"Do you still hear him? Silco I mean."
"Ideology is a silly game crazy people pretending to be sane play so they can pretend all their crazy little actions are completely sane." Jinx smiled.
"I'm not THAT crazy", she finished.
"But do you…"
"...yes. I hear him. I still hear them all. But now Vi, they hear me too."
Jinx started out of the window as the moonlight centered around the canal streaming through the open SunGate.
"You're out of time, Vi. We're out of time.", the words came from Jinx's mouth with a hint of pain.
"I still don't understand… why are you telling me this Jinx?"
"...I don't know." she replied quietly.
"Powder. Vi. Grenade. Pin. Boom! Jinx. One and one made three. Unholy math if you think about it. The Devil's arithmetic."
Jinx focused her glare to her sister's eyes once more.
"Maybe I don't want that to happen to her. Maybe I don't want that to happen to you. Maybe Jinx needs to be the only… quirky one in the family. Maybe she doesn't like to share her toys."
Jinx stared at the floor once again, fidgeting her feet trying to find the right words to express her thoughts. Clear expression was never an easy task, but she knew if there was a time to speak as plainly as possible, this was it. There was no room for misinterpretation.
She focused herself, gathered her thoughts and spoke slowly and soundly:
"We are a byproduct of the sins of our fathers, Violet. You and I... our destinies were written by others long before we came into this world. Don't let her legacy be defined by our sins. She doesn't deserve this. She has a chance to be better. I… we need her to be better. All of us. To do better."
Jinx slowly picked herself up from the table.
"If you go through with this… you'll push her off the cliff…" Jinx slowly raised her glare from the floor to her sister's eyes.
"...so make sure you pack a life raft, because my boat is full of holes and I don't know how to swim."
With those words, the curtains closed. Jinx accomplished what she set out to do: warn her sister. Now, it was up to Vi to heed, or ignore her words.
Jinx turned to her mechanical insectoid friends. "Gary, Theus, lead the way. We're going home, boys."
Jinx focused her eyes on a particularly small firelight.
"Sam, if you get lost again, we're not coming back for you. Not after last time."
On command, the firelights streamed out of the room in a single-file line and scattered into the night.
"I'll see you around, big sis." Jinx said, melting back into the shadows which berthed her.
Vi sat in the chair, unsure of how to proceed. Familiar feelings of regret and sorrow filled her body. But with it came a new sense of hope and inspiration that her sister found some semblance of happiness within the parameters of her chaotic mind.
"Be gentle, Little Man." she thought to herself, and smiled.
After a few minutes of contemplation, she took a deep breath and reached for the radio.
Vi pressed the button to reach Ren.
"Vi, are you alright?"
"Yes Ren, I'm fine. Did you find the urchins?"
"We did, they're waiting with Alpha at the gates."
"Good. You did good, kid. With everything. I'm proud of you. Call everyone back, we're aborting the mission."
"Aborting? But Vi, I don't underst…"
"Yes, we're done here. It doesn't feel like a good night, something feels off. Call it a hunch."
"Vi, we're never going to get another chance at this! if Jinx is still in the room and you…"
"No, Ren. Jinx is gone. Let's go home."
Vi turned off the radio, raised herself from her seat, and started to collect her belongings.
"Thank you, Pow-Pow.", Vi blurted to the corner of the room where she last saw her sister.
"I'll see you around."