Boums and Bangs
Bang
Bang
Bang
Three out of three. Perfect score. Mylo was not even a challenge anymore. Claggor did not even congratulate her anymore.
- Tsss...
She was frustrated. After weeks spent in here, shooting targets that didn't move, she wouldn't miss anything. She threw her gun away and settled on her workbench.
- This is not enough! she pestered.
Powder grabbed a small wrench and started to tweak on her project.
- I need to get those Chompers to work! she explained. Silco said I need to get better !
Let's put those on a head.
- Ehehehe yes that would be fun to try.
Put them on your head.
- Screw you!
Put them on your head!
Powder quickly grabbed her gun and aimed for the head.
- Yeah start running! So I can finally have some moving targets!
She shot four more times. Mylo seemed to like getting shot in the face.
Jinx let herself fall on the chair. It was harder than the wood beam she used to lie on, above Silco's desk. She was exhausted.
As much fun as Chaos was, it ironically took A LOT of planning and preparation. Also, carrying both Pow-Pow and Fishbone on her back was not easy! Those guns were heavy, and not keen on going on a diet!
She gently put them on the down, as if they could get hurt and offended if she let them fall too harshly.
Her long blue braids swept the floor, like animated by a life of their own. Jinx gazed at the little pouch lying on the desk, the dim blue light of the Hexcores shining through.
Her plan had worked like clockwork. Perfect. She didn't like plans, but she liked clockworks. The machines. How it all fits together and works as expected. Sometimes.
Now what? She had no idea what to do with those. Last time she had one like it, she had made a bomb so powerful it had crossed the sky of the whole town to blow up the Council.
Magnificent.
So now, with a nice little stock of those, there were of course an ocean of possibilities.
But which one to go with? She couldn't make up her mind.
Mylo was as useful as a stupid mouse.
Claggor never said anything, so he wasn't able to help.
Fishbone wanted to blow up something again, but couldn't decide what to target.
Pow-Pow wanted to try it again. Not sure what results that would give?
- Ziggs? she called through the house. Ziggy?! Ziggyfluuuf?
No answer. The little Yordle had a habit of doing whatever he wanted to, wherever and whenever, she would never know when he'd be at the house.
When she had left Zaun, seven months prior, she was not planning to leave for good, of course not. Silco would not be happy if she just abandoned everything. But she needed... new ideas.
She didn't go very far. She actually did not even leave for the full seven months, she had been back for two months already! Laying low had been hard, but necessary, Silco had said so.
After a couple of weeks out on the road, stealing and shooting for food (nothing new), she had met this little guy, Ziggs. He was of the same specie as Heimerdinger, although far younger, but just as much as a genius. The main difference was that Ziggs was interested in only one thing : make things go KABOOM! When it came to explosives, Ziggs was an absolute mastermind, even greater than Jinx herself. He was the one who came up with the lava bomb, this explosive that melted the walls of the bank without leveling the whole neighborhood.
So of course, when the Yordle had met Jinx, or actually witnessed her blowing up some thugs to kingdom come on the road with her rocket launcher, he had become EXTREMELY interested. Obsessed, even. He had followed her around like a lovesick puppy, submerging her with question and ideas. At first, Jinx had thought he was just another voice , but when she saw him blowing up a whole bridge as part of "an experiment", she knew he wasn't, and the interest became mutual.
Now he was "technically" living with her in Zaun, although she barely ever saw him, only when he had a new idea of invention to share.
She didn't care much anyway, she had a own work to do. Although he probably would be very interested in the bunch of Hexcores she had just stolen.
The house, if it could be called that, was more of a giant basement. She could not have returned to Silco's old hideout, or any of his places, as the enforcers and the Chem-Barons probably knew all about them by now. She had to find her own way, her own place.
See, one day, this city's gonna respect us.
We will show them all!
Yes, yes, but how? She needed a plan, Silco always had a plan, she needed a plan like Silco! Sadly, her father would still not show himself to her... She could hear him, yes, she could hear his whispers, but not see his face. Why wasn't he showing his face like the others?!
Still, his voice had been enough to show the way. When she landed back in Zaun, unsure where to go and what to do, she had discovered how the Chem-Baron had risen and destroyed Silco's dream of an independent nation with their greed and stupidity. But they also provided a nice opportunity, a good front for her getting back into the city and continuing the work.
The plan from Silco's voice was simple : get one of the Chem-Baron to do his work, like he used to. Then a second one. Then a third. Build several small armies, then throw them at Piltover! And in the meantime, plunge the city into Chaos, so they would be unable to prepare for what was to come!
And Chaos, that she knew. It was rare that Silco's order was "make a mess, the biggest you can". Not new, but rare. The best missions!
Controlling the Chem-Baron, however, was harder. That was not her thing, that was Silco's. But she tried. She tried. And she got one! Lang was the name, he owned the house she was living in! He and Ziggs were the only two persons aware of her come back to the Undercity.
Lang was a young fool. Maybe twenty-five years old, and at least as many scars, but he was a good fighter. He already had a twenty-men crew, most of them younger than him, and pretty inexperienced. When she had crashed his "important meeting" with his three lieutenants to discuss plans, guns on her back, he had been excited. When she had killed all three said lieutenants to make sure he'd be the only one left to know of her presence, he had been attracted.
In a way, Mylo was probably jealous, that's why he wanted to kill him too. But Silco's voice was louder and told her to share plans and ressources, the few they had still hidden across the city.
In two months, under Jinx guidance, Lang had more than doubled the size of his crew and taken down two small Chem-Barons. He was so happy with his growing success, and smart enough to know it was all thanks to his blue haired partner, that he would do anything she said. Anything.
Jinx HATED working with a partner and following plans. She hated hated hated. Ziggs was already more than enough of a company, but Chaos required planning, kept telling Silco. It was the best way to set fire to the city. To Piltover.
It was time to move to the next step anyway. Vi and her Hat-lady had shuffled the deck by meddling in the business of the Undercity, and one baron was dead, the other had lost half his crew.
She was happy that Vi helped her. Sure, she didn't know she did, but she helped her. That was cool of her. It opened the perfect opportunity for the next step, especially now that the word of her being back had started to spread.
She turned back, leaving her place empty, and ahead out, her long blue braids hidden underneath a large red cap. She melted into Zaun like a shade, ahead toward Lang's main hideout. She needed to talk with him.
There was also a large wooden beam in his "office". That was nice. Threw her back to better times, where she would listen to Silco exposing his plans to his goons, watching for him, or sometimes, drawing.
But well, this time she had nothing to paint with, and Lang was soooo goddamn slow? Where was he? What's the point of sneaking in through a window like a ghost if you have to wait for hours for the guy to show up?!
When finally the door slammed, she had almost fallen asleep, enough to be surprised and almost fell from the ledge.
She observed Lang for a second. He was alone, but seemed pissed. She let herself, voluntarily this time, fall off and silently landed right behind him, like an assassin.
- What's wrong, tough guy?
Lang jumpscared, almost had a heart attack.
- Fucking hell! I told you to stop doing that!
- Hehehe but it's fun! Alright alright, sit, I got the next move for our plan lined up just right.
Behind lang, Mylo was observing, curious, a bit like a cat observing a mouse before eating it. But for the first time, Lang did not sit, but instead raised his right hand.
- Hold'up sweetheart. We got a problem to solve first.
Jinx raised an eyebrow.
- Problem? Well I don't like the sound of that.
- Neither do I! Our latest shipment got attacked! We lost all of it!
- All of it? All the Shimmer we had left has been... lost? Is that what you're saying?
That was how she had gotten Lang so far so quickly : she had delivered him all the stocks that remained, hidden through the entire city. At least all that she knew off, it was likely Silco had more. Due to the high drop in supply, price had raised considerably, bringing Lang enough cash and reputation to hire and attract a lot of young folks.
- Well not lost, lost. More like stolen.
- By who?
Jinx felt a divine rage boiling in her stomach, the kind that gave Silco all his magnificence.
- Firelights. They knew we were going to move the last boxes out of the the warehouse. Busted in with half a dozen of their flying boards and screwed up my guys.
The word twisted something in her.
- Firelights? They're still here?
- Yeah well, we see less of them. They've been less of a pain recently that they were last year, but they just got us good.
While he said that while a light tone, almost cheerful, there was a barely contained anger behind his teeth. The young man, despite his age, was not the crew's leader for nothing. He was violent, strong, and smart.
- I'm even surprised they took it. I thought they'd just destroy it but now, they actually left with the crates.
Jinx brought a finger to her mouth, thoughtful. This was not the plan. That's why she liked it. Also, Firelights... Ekko... Little Man owed her a rematch. A revenge.
- Well, I suppose we should get them back then!
Jinx despised the plans. But setting a trap, ironically... that, she loved.
Powder, standing tall, was facing Silco with a little smile. His golden eye was fixing her, scanning her. The young girl's hair had grown a lot, in the four months he had taken care of her. She had started to tie them up in pigtails, falling roughly behind her ears.
More importantly, he stared at the gun she was holding. It was not a model he had given her, nothing he had even ever seen. It looked modified, customized.
- What do I owe the pleasure, young Powder?
- I did as you said. I'm now very, very good with a gun.
- Oh is that so? Shall I ask for a demonstration then?
She raised her gun toward his face, steady, decided, and tilted her head.
- What do you want me to shoot?
He kept studying her. There was no fear left in her eyes. They vibrated with a glimmer that chilled his blood, a terrible, unhinged thirst. She would shoot, and she wouldn't miss. They were few things ever certain in life, but this was one of them, he believed.
- Nothing yet. I believe you. Well I suppose there's a mission that could use your help.
Suddenly excited, Powder brought both her hands to her cheeks and jumped around a little bit, like a young child again.
- Yeay! We're going on a mission! You hear that?
She looked to her side, as if she was talking to a pet plush, and then giggle, like someone had said a funny joke. Silco raised an eyebrow.
- Well, before that, we do have a last issue to address, don't we? Have you decided yet? Why you want to join me? Us?
- Yes! I know!
- I listen.
- Because this city's gonna respect me. And topside too!
- So this is about respect? Status?
- I also want them fo pay. Enforcers took my parents away from me. Then they wanted to take Vi from me, and that's why she's gone. That's why Vander is gone. That's why they left me. Because of the topside. They will respect me, and then they will pay.
Silco felt the vibrant anger and hate behind it, and stared a her a few more seconds.
- Alright. I suppose that will be enough for now. Come. Follow me.
He stood up and put his long, black coat on his shoulders, stepped out of his office with a decided step, Powder on his trail like an excited puppy.
They crossed the Lanes, blending in the crowd, in the lights and in the dark, unnoticed, as if they were always part of the background. Silco had this way of turning down his charisma when going out, so he would't drag any unwanted attention. But with every steps, every turns, Powder's feeling that she knew the place grew stronger.
It's only when she stopped in front of The Last Drop that she realized. Of course she knew the neighborhood, she grew up in it! Under the neon lights of the bar, her ghosts seems to brighten up, get excited. They jumped around, grew in size, their teeth pointing out of their mouth like dogs.
- No... she whispered.
- Ah yes, answered Silco, I might have forgotten to tell you. After Vander's... passing I thought it would be a great shame to let this place go to waste. So I took over. In his honor. Come. We have business inside.
She followed him, again, but without jumping this time.
His office was above the bar. She knew the place, but it had been completely rearranged, so much she barely recognized it. The massive desk, although used and scratched, looked almost too good. In there, Sevika, her metallic left arm shining under the light, and two other men.
- You're all here. Very well. Let's start then, said Silco as he stepped in.
Sevika gazed at Powder.
- What is she doing here? This isn't a place for kids.
- And that's my place to decide who comes here, who does what and who gets to take part in the action, as you well know it Sevika. Now can we get to work?
The black woman gulped, then nodded.
- Powder manifested her interest in joining our cause. She's a remarkable gunman and an even more incredible inventor. She will be of great use to us.
Those words warmed her heart to a point she thought it would explose. Something in them made her think of Vi, of the way she used to praise her skills.
- Now, continued Silco. Our good friend the Doctor has now recovered from his injuries. He has started to resume his work, but we are in need of a some new ingredients to improve the formula, or so he says. And our job is too provide him with what he needs.
- And do we know where to find these ingredients? asked the tallest man.
Silco smiled.
- It turns out we do. It's a special plant coming from Ionia. Hard to procure, used in some medicines to help women with difficult pregnancies.
The two goons seemed uneasy.
- And we need that because...?
- Because Dr Singed said so. It is rather impossible to procure for us here, but Piltover has been having a steady supply for years. Luckily for us, with a proper chemical treatment, this plant can be turned into a drug. Some of you might know it as The Blue Sand.
Of course everyone knew about the Blue Sand. It was a rare but powerful opiate that would induce a near, blissful coma. Very few were the ones able to get some in the Lanes, due to its rarity and its high price. And they all knew who was the one dealing it.
- So we're hitting Dandy Blane? asked Stan, the shorter thug.
Dandy Blane was a kingpin, owner of several brothels in the Undercity, and small time drug dealer. Small in quantity, at least, but not in quality, as he was the only one able to provide with Blue Sand in the Lanes. He was clearly one of the wealthiest man in the Undercity, and therefore a big, risky target that very few would dare to aim for.
- Not yet. Let's try to make a deal. We can buy a part of his stock, or some access to his provider.
- But he hates you.
- He does not. He's not convinced by our project, that's all. But he will be. In the meantime, he's a business man. He'll see the worth in it.
Sevika crossed her arms.
- And the kid? What is she there for?
Silco looked down at her.
- She's here to watch and learn. Who knows? Maybe she'll have something good to bring to the table.
- SHE FUCKED UP EVERYTHING!
Sevika was yelling on top of her lungs, almost spitting on Silco's face. Her metal arm was covered in blood, her hair were stained too. Next to her, Stan, was trying to stop the bleeding on his skull with a dirty cloth.
Silco stared at her, quiet, inquisitive. Then his golden eye moved toward Powder.
- What happened?
- We had him! It was all good ! Dandy Blane was in for a deal! We just were discussing terms and then.. then...
- I just wanted to try my new Chompers! said Powder.
- Your new...
- Grenades ! exploded Sevika. Grenades with teeth!
- Ehehehe they worked perfectly! His head just exploded! Pouf!
Silco stayed silent. The young girl looked happy, excited.
- She killed him, boss! Right there, unprovoked!
- Everything turned to shit boss! They started shooting everywhere, we lost almost everyone!
- Eheheh...
Powder was still giggling.
- We can't keep her, boss, insisted Stan. The guys were right! She's a bloody jinx!
BANG.
His skull exploded like a ripe fruit, painting the wall and Sevika with even more blood, pieces of brain and bones. Both adults stayed frozen, surprised and in shock.
- I am NOT a jinx! screamed Powder, her gun smoking in her hand.
This time her arm was not steady. It was trembling, shaking, not with fear, but with hate and anger. Finally, Silco spoke again.
- Why not? Maybe it's what you are. Who you are.
Furious, she pointed her barrel at him. Sevika reacted on the spot, but Silco stopped her.
- Why do you keep trying to erase who you are, just to please them? You're a brillant young girl. What if destruction is what you're good at? Use it! Bring it to our enemies! You can be the sword above their head! The plague upon our foes. Believe me, once you accept who you are, you will find how truly perfect you are.
Powder lowered her gun, just a little.
- But Boss! She's insane! She blew up the guy without a word and got half my crew killed!
- Blane is dead, isn't he? Did we secure the stock?
- Part of it yeah...
- So she just offered us what we needed, plus the whole territory and resources of Blane, just for the price of a few second hands we can replace. I'd say this is a very good day, Sevika.
- And Stan? She just scattered his brain on me!
The man shifted his attention to his little protegee.
- We'll call that a breakthrough...
Powder looked at her gun, liked she was listening very carefully to it.
- Be the jinx... I'm a jinx? A jinx...
She started giggling again.
- Ehehehe that would be funny. I'm a jinx!
Jinx knew where Little Man used to get his information and rumors. Well not all of it, but a few spots at least. More like persons. So getting the rumor spread that, after the bust of the previous week and loosing their cargo, Lang and his crew would be moving out their last, and biggest, batch of Shimmer, was rather easy. Where, when, how... They also had a few false rumors here and there to make it all more believable. Ekko would never trust an intel that was too obvious.
So she was now hidden on top of a roof, looking at a bunch of thugs moving a couple of empty crates around under the supervision of Lang, in the cover of the night. Actually, those crates were not totally empty. They each contained a couple of bombs or chompers, treats from Jinx and Ziggs. Which clearly made the crew nervous, and helped sell the part marvelously.
They barely had to wait. After a dozen of minutes, an uncharacteristic sound troubled the air. All muscles in Jinx's body tensed, the Shimmer in her blood seemed to kick in. She grinned, the expectation of the fun ahead making it up for the waiting.
Five flying figures came out of nowhere, swinging bats and other metal wrenches. A sixth one came in from the other side, is recognizable white mask on.
- Ehehehe, giggled Jinx.
She did not join the fight on the spot. She watched. Lang and his men, although in higher numbers, were not a match for the Firelights. Two dropped, stunned by big knocks on the heads. The blue haired woman observed Ekko from above. For some reasons, he was not entering the fight either, more like flying around, assisting and protecting his mates, with a sort of blue-lighted blade.
- Well that's new, she whispered.
She disliked seing him this cowardly. She hated it. Where was the anger, the passion he showed when he gritted his teeth in front of her just before beating her senseless? That was not fair!
She took Zap out of its holster, and without even aiming, shot at one of the crates. She didn't even care which one.
The whole thing exploded. Probably a Chomper. The blast knocked almost all Firelights out of their flying boards, and several of Lang's thugs away, some shredded by the splinters of the crates, like a swarm of thousands insects starving for blood.
Ekko too. Thrown out of his board, he landed hard, on his shoulder, his weapon landing far away from his hand, and his mask fallen off. His head was hurting, like pressed between two iron hands, and his whole body felt like led.
In complete opposite, light as a feather, Jinx jumped out of her roof and landed with grace, despite the heavy load of weapons on her back.
- Hey there, Little Man! Looks like we're about to get even.
- Jinx... he groaned. I heard you were back.
She smiled at him. Grinned.
- Missed me?
- Not really.
With another grunt, he forced himself up.
- Well that's insulting, she said.
The other Firelights were starting to pick themselves up. So was Lang, already trying to raise his own people and bark orders.
- What do you want, Jinx? asked Ekko.
- Give back the Shimmer you stole.
He looked surprised.
- The Shimmer? What do you want with it? What are you doing with that looser?
- Not, your, business, she groaned.
She raised her gun, aimed for his head as an ultimatum.
But something cut her. An howl. Something different, something new, that she had never heard in her life in the Undercity.
- Oh fuck... whispered Ekko.
- What?
Before he could answer, everything turned into an absolute, delightful chaos. A massive, dark shade appeared out of nowhere and cut through a goon like nothing, spreading blood all other the walls. People screamed, Firelights tried to gather with their small weapons to protect each other's backs, completely defenseless when the monster barged in the group and broke it apart, leaving with the head of one of its member trapped between his fangs.
- Fall back! screamed Ekko! Go back! Run!
Jinx holstered back Zap, and unleashed Pow-Pow with a laughter. The machine gun shredded the night, but the monster was either so fast that it could dodge the bullets, or so tough they would mean nothing to it.
Something grabbed her collar and pulled her back, strongly, so much she shot bullets at the sky before releasing the trigger.
- What the hell?!
- We gotta run! screamed Ekko.
A new howl pierced the night and a terrible growl followed.
- Shit!
The monster came rushing toward them, straight ahead, and for the first time she could see and understand what it was. A monstrous wolf. Her mind rushed between all sorts of questions. What the hell is it doing here? What is that thing in his back? Why did she love it so much? She wanted one like that too.
She detached a Chomper from her belt, pulled the pin, and threw it at the incoming threat.
The wolf, quick as lightning, tried to deflect it away with a hit of his massive paw, but the metal jaws of the grenade clung to its iron claws. The bomb went off, triggering a couple of Ziggs little bombs that had spilled from a create nearby. The explosion doubled in size and shook the whole neighborhood.
Thrown backward herself, she landed hard, hurting her own back on her weapons.
- Aoutch! The fuck is...
Ekko had already grabbed her again, pulled her close behind a wall, and gagged her with his hand on his mouth.
- Shhh! Not a sound! he whispered. He's still here.
- The fuck is that? she whispered back, unphased by Ekko's body pressed against hers.
- We got no idea. We call him Warwick.
- Weird name.
Suddenly, they both seem to realize their position, how close they were to each other.
Jinx grinned.
- I used to have a crush on you, admitted Ekko in a whisper.
- What changed? she asked, with a wider, meaner smile.
- You started talking to your gun. Come on we gotta go.
It was too late. The wolf had found them. It was staring at them, bleeding from his mouth, his back, his paws, but still just as threatening. It seemed to hesitate for a second, then growled, and jumped forward, all claws out.
- Shit!
Jinx drew her gun and shot.
Limping, she tried to make her way back to her hideout, leaving stains and drops of blood on her path, using the walls as a clutch. Her arms were both showing bruises and cuts, her left leg was bleeding heavily, and her guns all needed some serious repairs.
Her battle against the wolf, Warwick, had been violent and quick. Ekko and her, in the end, had managed to push him back, to retreat to literally lick his wounds, but they had not managed to kill it, barely escaping with their lives. As soon as the monster had ran away, Ekko had disappeared on her, without a word, leaving her alone in the street.
Still, she was rather happy with her night. She had FUN. She had felt alive. And almost dead.
As she reached her street, and almost to the house, she saw a little ball of fur rushing out.
- Don't come don't come don't come! Run!
- Wha..
BOUM
The whole house exploded, it's roof blown up to the sky, a pillar of flame tearing the walls down and the blow knocking Jinx down on her ass, again, her blue braids falling over her eyes. Bricks fell all around, smoked filled the air and her lungs with a delicious smell.
- Ziggs! Ziggzou what the hell was that?
- Hihihi! Mega Inferno Bomb! Not ready not ready yet! But promising! Yes yes it is!
- And my Hexcores! Damit Ziggs I just got them!
- Oh you mean you mean the little blue balls? I have them! Yes yes yes! Looked important!
He reached for one of his pocket and pulled out the pouch of Hexcores in his hairy hand.
- See? Hihihihi! Got them! No worries!
- MY HOUSE !
The voice roared from behind them.
- WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY HOUSE?
Lang, his clothes torn, few cuts on his face, and an angry look in his eyes, was left speechless in the middle of the street.
- You blew up my fucking house? First you get that monster on us, and now this?!
- Oh! Hey Lang! Wassup?
- Wass...
Unable to speak further, drooling from rage, he drew his own weapon on Jinx.
- That's it. I'm done with your bullshit.
In a split second, all of Jinx's ghost woke up at the same time.
No! We need him for the plan!
He wants to kill you!
The plan! It's important!
Look at his gun! I'm so much better!
Run!
Kill him!
Think of something! The plan! We need to save the plan!
I hate the plan! Plan sucks!
Bullet Bullet Bullet
Fuck the plan! Screw the plan!
Bang.
A/N : As promised, some more Jinx! And even a bit of Ekko :p. For information : Jinx and Ziggs are roomates in the lore, but they do meet differently (there is a comic book about it). I took the liberty of changing that for the sake of the story.
