CHAPTER 5

"Ekko's dead?" Claggor asked. The other kids looked as devastated as he did.

Jinx looked down at them and decided to go with her gut feeling. "I doubt it. He was prepared. He was wearing something under his shirt that protected him from bullets and other kinds of damage. He's a survivor." Caitlyn and Vi exchanged a look at Jinx's blatant omission.

"How can you be sure?" Vi asked quietly.

Jinx shrugged as she bit into another piece of shortbread. "He leapt away from the blast. And since I survived while I was right next to it, he had better odds."

"Jinx is probably right," Caitlyn admitted, though she looked like she loathed the words coming out of her mouth. She elaborated upon receiving multiple desperate/questioning looks. "If they found Ekko's body, they would've tried to pin that massacre on him."

"But they would've recognized Jinx's explosives," Vi pointed out.

Jinx sighed, "Ironically, Markus would've been the one to smooth things over with the enforcers. He's done it for S-us before."

Caitlyn shrugged, "They would need to be seen doing something. The actual hunt for Jinx would've probably been conducted more covertly. But to be able to say, 'We've got them!' is a useful tool to pacify the council from committing to further aggressive action."

"By hunt you death squad right?" Jinx supplied with a dark grin.

Caitlyn sighed, "If you're lucky. But such an endeavor would probably aim for a very quiet and permanent transfer to Stillwater."

"What explosion, what are you talking about?" Powder asked. "You're talking around all of us like you think we're stupid! What happened to Ekko?!"

Before any of the three time travelers could address Powder's understandable frustrations, there was a solid knock at the door followed by a slightly accented and angry voice.

"Enforcers! Open up."

"I think that's Marcus," Caitlyn whispered.

Jayce looked at the time travelers with wide eyes. Vi and Jinx could easily be older siblings to their counter parts. Unfortunately, Caitlyn's was a face known by most enforcers because of who her mother was. An older version of that face could be problematic.

A different, older and richer voice spoke up, "Forgive my second's rudeness, Mr. Talis. We were in the neighborhood and noticed the disturbance. Please allow us in to check that everything is right and proper. But more importantly there is a legitimate concern for your safety, and that of Councilor Kiramman's daughter."

Both Caitlyn's perked up at the second voice. Cupcake whispered, "Sheriff Grayson,"

Jayce made a decision. "I'll be right there Sheriff. If you would be so kind, I would like only you to come through my door, as there are proprietary secrets I'm hesitant to trust your subordinates with. Even your second in command."

"WHAT!"

"Marcus, be calm; or I won't wait to reprimand you. I won't give Councilor Kiramman a reason to be displeased with us because you failed to reign in your temper." Grayson pacified her subordinate with a reflexive ease.

Marcus' frustrated growl could easily be heard through the door. Despite the tense situation, young Caitlyn giggled a little. She was sure she caught glimpse of a smile on Violet's face too. Apparently, the threat of a public dressing down got the hot-headed man to pull himself together somewhat.

Grayson "Irregular, but not an unreasonable request from somebody in good standing. Wait for me at the tavern down the street Marcus."

"Yes, Ma'am," he reluctantly conceded. He walked off in a huff they could hear through the door.

Jayce waited until they couldn't hear the retreating enforcer's footsteps moved to the door and let the Sheriff in.

The Sheriff was an imposing woman, standing on level with Jayce, and towering over the rest of them. But it wasn't her height or obvious musculature that gave her an aura of intimidation. It was her eyes. While not malicious, her eyes swept the room twice and turned to focus on the Kiramman girls. It was obvious that she knew even without having to be told.

"What am I looking at?" Sheriff Grayson asked softly. "Caitlyn?"

"Something I don't think the council at large should ever learn of," Jayce replied solemnly.

"I can't make that promise, Mr. Talis," Sheriff Grayson replied.

Cupcake crossed the room and hesitantly pulled the Sheriff into a hug. Sheriff Grayson tentatively hugged her back. "Explain to me now, why there are two each of Caitlyn Kiramman, and Vander's daughters."

"You know who we are?" Powder seemed understandably afraid at that.

"You know Vander?" Violet spoke up.

"We're counterparts of a sort. He's the nominal Sheriff of sorts who tends the Undercity. Keeps his people in line, for the most part; same as me. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't know Vander," Sheriff Grayson replied curtly. "And it's not exactly a secret he adopted two daughters with distinctive features. But that's not strictly relevant right now. What happened here."

"Progress Boy's secret project went boom," Jinx said. She indicated the box that held the Hextech crystals.

The Sheriff opened the box and looked upon the crystals. "What am I looking at?"

"The future," Jayce said proudly.

"Have Heimerdinger's assistant Viktor brought here to help your investigation," Caitlyn supplied. "Things are already happening differently, but some things should remain the same."

"Are you sure about that Cupcake?" Vi asked.

"If for no other reason than so we can broadly predict how things will happen. Our presence here has already caused ripples."

"Ripples? Look around you. She's still alive, "Jinx pointed at the Sheriff, then at Mylo and Claggor, "Our brothers are still alive, and somewhere not too far away, so are Silco and Vander. If you think for a moment that I'm going to waste this chance because it doesn't cause ripples, you've got another thing coming."

Caitlyn looked at Jinx for a long, quiet moment where no one was sure what to say or do to dispel the obvious tension. Finally, Caitlyn spoke up, "Well, considering how things went last time resulted in your attempt to murder my mother and the rest of the council, I wouldn't mind changing some things for the better."

"We need to get back home," young Violet spoke up before the room erupted in questions. "Vander'll be expecting us."

Sheriff Grayson rubbed her face. "You understand there must be an investigation into this incident Mr. Talis?"

"Yes." He said with a sigh. "Is there any way I can get a fair trial?"

"Try to get Councilor Mel Medarda on your side," Caitlyn supplied. "She's the one who sanctioned yours and Viktor's breakthrough the first time."

"Great, I haven't even met this man and I'm already sharing credit," Jayce groused.

"If it makes any difference, I think you become great friends," Caitlyn supplied with a ghost of a grin. Jayce raised an eyebrow at her insinuation, but didn't question her on it.

"Just leave out the time travel, and there won't be any real problems," Vi spoke up. "And don't send enforcers after a group of children. It makes you look weak."

Sheriff regarded Vi with a long look before chuckling, "You're definitely Vander's daughter. Same fucking stubbornness. Alright, the Enforcers won't pursue you today. But you three shouldn't stay in Piltover for too long. The pair of you stick out, and Caitlyn would be too difficult to explain."

Jayce spoke up, "We should all stay in contact,"

"You're right," Vi said as she looked him up and down. She turned to the Sheriff, "Don't take Marcus into the Undercity, or trust him. He usurps you, bloodily."

Grayson nodded slowly, "Will I get an explanation for why you," she indicated the adult Caitlyn, "are wearing an Enforcer's uniform?"

"Your death spurred me to join. To make things better," Caitlyn replied quietly. Grayson patted the young woman on the shoulder.

"We should leave through the front door then, Violet said sensibly. She got up and the rest of the Undercity crew followed her lead. Jinx strolled over to the corpse of her massive gun that was left on the floor when they arrived. She leaned down and extracted the arcane crystal from it and muttered to herself, "Zaun won't be left behind again."