"Renatus!"
Viktor's call went unanswered.
Jayce laid his eyes upon what he had wrought in horror.
"Oh shit."
Ren wasn't moving. His shoulder had imploded; a formless mess of blood. His upper arm was snapped at an impossible angle. Bones, splintered, ripped through skin, their white a stark contrast to the pooling crimson.
Jayce staggered backwards. As he stared down at the end of his hammer, his body suddenly felt as though it were filled with ice. His weapon had the boy's blood smeared across it. An appalled look crept onto his face as reality set in. He struck the boy. No, he pulverized him. That attack was meant to kill Viktor. But it hit the boy instead. Even though it had only caught him in the shoulder, Jayce still feared that the attack was lethal. There was force enough in that strike to demolish a golem. And he had hit a child with it.
But Jayce's horror paled in comparison to Viktor's. No amount of chem-inhibitor could suppress the raw emotions that now spiraled through his mind. Ren had pushed him out of the way. He had saved his life. And all Viktor was able to do was watch as the Mercury Hammer came thundering down on his apprentice's shoulder.
"No," Viktor thought, "this isn't, can't be, no."
He pulled himself back to his knees. As he looked down at his hands, he could see Ren's blood spattered across them. A fresh, painful spike of fear drove itself through him. His mind began to race and it felt as though only his mechanical heart kept a steady rhythm as he assessed the situation.
"Self-analysis. Bleeding. Non-life-threatening. Limbs, severely damaged. Complete replacement needed for leg. I will survive, but Renatus. Renatus. Heavy bleeding. Left shoulder, crushed. So much blood. No. I won't lose another one to Jayce. I won't lose another. I won't lose him. He's losing blood. Running out of time. No, no, no. Don't die."
Viktor reached into his pocket, pulled out the shard of the true hexcrystal, and drew upon its stored power. As he wrapped his fingers tightly around it, warmth flowed up his arm. It soothed the ache in his muscles, reinvigorating them. Power coursed through the mechanical parts of his body, causing the places where machine and man met to sting as though red hot needles were being driven into them. There was pain, but he could move his leg again. The machinery in his limbs sparked and hissed in protest, but Viktor forced himself to his feet.
The pain was pushed from his mind and Viktor turned to face Jayce anew. It was easy to tell from a glance that his foe was on his last legs, but then again, so was he. He needed to end this fight immediately. With each minute that passed, Ren's chance of survival dropped.
Viktor gave a final glance at his apprentice. Anger flared within him. It burned. The image of Ren's broken body was seared into his mind even as he looked away. Years of repressed animosity and resentment boiled over. Alongside Ren, Viktor saw the bodies of the men and women of the Factorywood and the drowned dock workers. Anger gave way to fury.
"Tell me Jayce," he said, "is this your idea of progress?"
"What?" Jayce balked, suddenly snapped back to his senses.
"Murdering the people of Zaun for dissenting with Piltover."
Now it was Jayce's turn to respond with anger of his own.
"You think I wanted to hit the kid?"
"His name is Renatus."
As the two spoke, they circled away from Ren, neither wishing for a stray attack to further maim the boy. Both were astounded that the other was still standing. But could his foe fight? Not wanting to be caught off guard, they watched each other's movement closely, waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Doesn't matter what his name is right now. Besides, you were the one who filled his brain full of chems so he would fight for you."
"That's false and you know it. If his mind was influenced by my chemicals, he would have obeyed me without question and fled. I did not want him to fight. He remained of his own free will."
"And the trap," Jayce asked, "Was that not you ordering him to fight?"
"He should never have had to! You brought this violence here! But, if it is destruction you seek, I shall provide it."
Excess energy from the crystal surged through Viktor's laser. It scintillated as the light from within shifted from orange to a sharp red. The stream of heat that poured from it melted a path along the floor towards Jayce. Even where the beam had not directly passed, the concrete cracked from strain. Where it had, it looked as though molten metal, fresh from a forge, had been poured. The limb was never designed to produce a beam at such intensity, and Viktor gave a cautionary glace at his augmentation. It held together, though the metal had begun to warp from the heat.
The power the additional hexcrystal provided was extraordinary, but Viktor wanted more. If that was what was needed to defeat Jayce, he would let the arm melt itself. Machinery could be replaced, Ren could not.
Jayce's eyes went wide with fear. He sprinted away to avoid this new, deadlier attack. Looking at the path of destruction the death ray had left, he knew he would have to give the attacks a wider berth. This, he realized with despair, would get more difficult with each passing second. His muscles were growing heavy with fatigue, his lungs burned as though he were breathing in fire rather than air, and his seared arm was rapidly losing the strength to support his weapon.
"This just proves my point," Jayce said, finding energy to shout between gasps for air, "You're a danger, Viktor! Your mad goals couldn't be left unchecked. I had to intervene!"
"You did not need to leave your city to meddle in the affairs of mine."
"Your actions would affect Piltover someday too. I will not risk you harming my city."
Having been pushed back by the death ray, Jayce transformed the hammer back into its cannon form. It wasn't an ideal situation, and he wanted to get back into melee range with Viktor as soon as he was able to, but Jayce also understood that right now, he had to attack. He could not let up the pressure and allow Viktor to fire another one of those terrifyingly powerful rays. He needed this fight to end minutes ago. Looking over the smoking trail from the last attack, he took aim at Viktor and fired.
Viktor threw out his syphon, but rather than aim for Jayce, he directed the device to latch onto a power box on the wall. At once, the lights dimmed as it drew power from the factory itself. Smoke began to rise from the syphon's cable as it drew more and more power into Viktor. An aura of electricity encircled him like a protective shroud. It prickled his skin, covering his entire body with a pins and needles sensation, but with what was about to occur, he would be grateful for it.
The blast from the Mercury Cannon collided with the energy field. In a blinding display of light, the two sources of energy clashed until they both fizzled out, leaving Viktor unscathed. Jayce winced, his eyes stinging from the brilliance. Viktor was spared this, the lenses in his mask automatically adjusting to the change in lighting to protect his eyes. While Jayce's eyes were seeing stars, Viktor aimed his third arm, its hand glowing with stolen energy, at Jayce through the Hex-Core.
The shot, practically plasma, flew through the air towards Jayce's face. Its light was so intense that, even though his vision was still recovering, he was able to see the attack and react. He raised the cannon up, blocking the shot with the weapon's head. The laser burned through the metal, leaving the innards of the weapon exposed through the wound. Gears had been melted together, preventing any further transformations.
"Ah, so that is what it means to be Defender of Tomorrow?" Viktor mocked, "Fearing imagined threats, destroying what others have created, and vilifying what you refuse to understand. You're scapegoating your short comings on those you view as below you. That's not progress, that is human weakness at its finest."
"Ah sorry," Jayce spat, "I forgot, you only consider it progress if it's either a lethal weapon or you're dismantling a person's humanity, like strapping weapons on a kid."
"How dare you drag him further into this!" Viktor flared, "Was destroying his arm not enough for you?"
Viktor took full advantage of being attached to the factory's power to rain a barrage of white hot shots at Jayce. The Hex-Core atop his staff blazed with keen purple light as beam after beam of concentrated heat passed through it. The barrage only paused momentarily when the arm had recharged sufficiently to unleash a full powered attack. So much power was flowing through his weapons that Viktor could command the arm to turn the floor to slag every five seconds. Behind him, more smoke began to pour off the cable and the first ember of a flame glowed.
Dodging everything coming his way was an insurmountable task for Jayce. As much as it pained him to do, he decided to sacrifice the Mercury Cannon to keep himself safe. Anytime his was unable to weave out of the way of a shot, he intercepted it with the head of the cannon. He could repair the hammer later. Scorched flesh, not so much. This frantic burst of attacks couldn't have lasted more than half a minute, but that was all it took for the weapon to become poked with nearly a dozen additional burns. Even though the death ray never touched him, his limbs still burned as though they had been set aflame.
"So suddenly you care about the sanctity of human life?" Jayce shouted back, each word a monumental effort.
Behind Viktor there was a popping sound. The syphon's cable had caught fire. Sparks fountained from the device before it severed with a snap. The lights in the factory went out. For a moment Viktor and Jayce stared at the other, illuminated by the hextech devices they carried. Jayce was bathed in the light of the cannon, making the sweat on his face sparkle and him appear as though he were carved of ice. Viktor was crowned by the burning red light of his laser, while in each of his hands, the blue of the crystals shards shone.
Jayce saw the glow in Viktor's left hand and a realization struck him. Viktor had another shard of the hexcrystal and with it, he could outlast him. Desperation wrapped around his heart like a serpent. He renewed his attack. His right arm, now bearing most of the weight, trembled from the effort of holding the heavy weapon. The Mercury Cannon, even though damaged, fired three rapid charges, but his unsteady hand could not aim properly.
Viktor responded to Jayce's attack reflexively fast with an attack of his own. The laser lashed out with its searing heat. The speed at which Viktor was able to return fire came at the cost of accuracy though and, exhausted as he was, Jayce was able to lurch out of the way of the attack. Viktor didn't have time to follow up on his attack. The shots from the cannon were still flying towards him.
Viktor staggered out of the way. Even with the crystal's enhancement, his damaged leg buckled and once more he fell to his knees. But it was enough. The energy blasts smashed into the floor, not even a hand's width behind him. The factory's emergency lighting came on, illuminating the room with a dim glow. With visibility improved, Viktor spared a quick look at his enemy.
Across from him, Jayce was not faring much better. Sweat was dripping from his forehead. The head of the cannon had been turned against the ground. Jayce was leaning on it for support as, his chest heaving, he tried to catch his breath. Neither could keep fighting, but neither could afford to stop.
"He would be dead if it weren't for my augmentations!" Viktor retorted, shakily rising to his feet as he spoke, "I have always strived to improve life in Zaun. I will bring progress to this city through my creations. My work is saving people."
"Turning people into mindless golems is not saving them," Jayce gasped out as he too struggled to right himself, "That's a fate worse than death!"
"I will not sit idly and allow innocents to die!"
An awful realization hit Viktor.
"That is exactly what I am doing. Let anger get the best of me. Idiotic. Refocus. Need to save Renatus. Must finish fight urgently. Nothing else matters. Have to use the storm drone. Hoped I wouldn't. Best option for expedited victory. Factory expendable, Renatus is not. I will save him."
He didn't spare a thought for consequences of this plan and reached for his most destructive weapon. Jayce was still speaking, shouting further accusations, but he paid them no more mind. It was as he had said; speaking with Jayce was a waste of his time and energy.
"So that's it," Jayce snarled, "Silence. Nothing to say to defend yourself, Viktor?"
"There is nothing to say," Viktor stated plainly, "there is only one person in this room who is deserving of my time, and it is not you."
Viktor produced the storm drone from behind his back. The unmistakable light it emanated immediately caught the attention of Jayce.
"Another shard," he sighed in disbelief.
"For the sake of Zaun, I sincerely hope this kills you."
The hexcrystal in the glass drone shone brilliantly. It had not been near so many shards of itself since it was whole. Viktor touched the dome with the Hex-Core atop his staff, activating it. Viktor's hairs stood on end as the drone powered up and began to radiate static. He released it, and it began to hover in the air beside him, ready to be commanded.
"Behold," Viktor commanded.
At once, the room became flushed with energy that made the air feel alive. The crystal in the drone rattled inside its glass home before flashing as bright as lightning. There was a final moment of calm. And then chaos.
kzzzt-BANG!
The first bolt struck the ground between Viktor and Jayce. It shattered. Pieces of charred concrete sprayed into the air. The second bolt struck the workbench, reducing it to splinters. The third, a support beam above. It crashed down, not even a hammer's length away from Jayce, sending tremors through his legs. Jayce looked on in dread. He had never envisioned Viktor creating something as destructive as this, and in his weakened state, he had no idea on how to combat it. After all, how do you fight a storm?
"Are you mad?" Jayce shouted over the thunderous cacophony, "You're going to bring this building down on all of us!"
Viktor remained calm in the face of this destruction. Choosing not to respond to Jayce any further, he remained silent. Actions spoke louder than words. He gestured forward with his staff. The Hex-Core and the shard in the dome flashed in unison as the storm drone advanced on Jayce.
Retreating backwards, Jayce's exhausted body struggled to stay ahead of the storm of voltaic energy that was rapidly approaching him. He scanned the room, looking for anything that could turn the fight to his advantage, but nothing presented itself. Instead he saw destruction. Any furnishing the bolts struck were obliterated, the already ravaged floor was further marred with cracks, the walls and ceiling groaned as they were defaced by scorch marks. Jayce understood that if he were to be struck by one of these bolts, it would almost certainly mean his death.
In a last ditch effort, he aimed the cannon up at the drone itself. He was willing to risk being stationary for a moment to activate an acceleration gate. No sooner had the energy of the gate became active than Jayce fired a blast towards the drone. His aim was true, but just as with Viktor before it, the device's aura of snapping energy protected it. Disrupted by the intense outpouring of electricity, Jayce's final attack dissipated into little more than a harmless shower of sparks. His gamble had not paid off.
snap-BANG!
It had happened faster than Jayce could react. The Mercury Cannon was struck. Drawn to the energy of the Hex-Capacitor, an arc of lightning from the storm drone burst forth and connected with the head of the cannon. The machinery reacted erratically to the sudden influx of electricity, as the current passed over the mechanism that was responsible for the weapon's transformations. It tried to transform itself back into a hammer, but its melted gears to prevent this, and forced the device back into its cannon form, only for it to attempt the process again. And as soon as began, it ended. Again the device continued to try and transform until the Hex-Capacitor overloaded and discharged a wave of electricity. It washed over Jayce.
All his muscles seemed to convulse at once and Jayce was thrown back. He collided with the wall, knocking the air from his lungs. Much to his amazement though, he was alive. It was a small mercy, but the Hex-Capacitor had absorbed most of the storm drone's attack, allowing him to survive the blast. His body was in agony though. Against their will, Jayce forced his blue eyes open. His hands still gripped the Mercury Cannon and its core was radiant with the electricity it had absorbed. For a moment he considered rallying himself for one last attack. He never followed through.
Defeat was not something Jayce had to deal with normally. He was blessed with both brains and brawn. Few in Clan Giopara's employ were more athletic than him and fewer still were as brilliant. For someone to best him was all but unheard of. And so it was not a feeling that Jayce had much experience dealing with. But he knew enough to admit it now. It was a terrible sensation, and if he had the energy to, he likely would have thrown up.
Even with his weapon empowered, if he could not lift it, another assault on Viktor would result in his death. He had no choice to but to retreat. If he died, that would be it. Viktor would remain unchecked and, with this destructive weapon at his disposal, Piltover would be in grave danger. His pride would be wounded, but Jayce knew he had to survive for his city. He had to survive for tomorrow.
Jayce diverted the excess power of the Hex-Capacitor to create a final acceleration gate. The metallic orbs fell out of the cannon. The gate sprang to life over him, stimulating his beyond beaten body. For the final time, Jayce pulled himself to his feet. He gave a final look at Viktor. The man was nearly unseen through the smoke, and debris, and storm, but the orange light of his mask cut through it all. Jayce knew that underneath it, grey eyes were glaring accusingly at him.
"You must understand the gravity of your actions now," Viktor said, "for years I have had this device, but never once had I ever brought it up to your City of Progress. I had no intention of doing so."
His tone was calm at first, but with each word he spoke, the ager in his voice grew. Jayce didn't stay around to listen to his old colleague. Letting the power of the crystal fill him, he turned and fled. But even as he sped down the hallway, Viktor's voice chased after him.
"But hear me, Jayce, if you only ever hear me once."
His words turned the burning air to ice.
"If he is dead, I vow I will personally raze Piltover to the ground."
Viktor didn't know whether he escaped out the door from which he came or through some newly created escape route, but Jayce was gone. The storm drone glided to the floor and powered down, its destructive mission accomplished. Viktor wanted nothing more than to join it on the floor; to collapse and rest. But he could not. Another needed him.
He turned towards Ren and rushed to him. His damaged leg seized up, no longer able to move at the speed he wished it to, and Viktor fell to his side. He used all three of his arms to roll himself back over. A quick glance at his leg revealed was all Viktor needed to know that the limb wouldn't bend anymore. Even with the dead weight, Viktor righted himself. The leg could be replaced, Ren could not.
Hobbling as quickly as he could, Viktor made his way over to Ren. The first task was the one he dreaded the most. He had to check to see if Ren was even still alive. A horrid mixture of fear, revulsion, and sorrow roiled in his stomach as he looked down on the bloody form of his apprentice. It was difficult to look at him, but Viktor pushed those emotions down. Any hesitation they would cause would only reduce Ren's chance of survival. He looked to the boy's chest. The movement was faint, but he could see the rise and fall from rapid, shallow breaths.
"He's breathing!"
Viktor dropped to his knees and immediately began first aid. Grabbing the closest piece of rubble to use as a support, he raised Ren's legs and set them up to redirect his blood back down towards his vital organs.
"Site of injury, left shoulder. Damage, catastrophic. Blood loss, heavy. Bones shattered. See shards in blood. The arm, Janna's mercy. Distal portion intact, proximal, unrecognizable. Limb unsalvageable. Must work quickly."
He tore the glove off his organic hand and reached for the wrist of Ren's surviving arm. His pulse was weak. Viktor pressed the crystal shard into Ren's palm and closed his fingers around it. He knew it didn't have restorative properties, but if he could give to his apprentice any extra strength, he would. As he worked to save him, the boy began to stir.
"Did we win, Doc?" Ren spoke.
His voice was barely more than a whisper. Green eyes peaked through heavy eye lids.
"Renatus, do not move."
"Heh, so you do know my name."
Ren offered a weak smile, which was cut short by a fit of coughing. Blood dribbled over his blue lips as he gasped for air. His body trembled from the effort of speaking.
"Do not speak. I will save you."
Viktor carefully grabbed what remained of Ren's arm and moved it away his body.
"Viktor," Ren whimpered, "I'm cold."
His vision was blurring, but above him, Ren could still make out the orange glow of the mask and the third arm primed for use. There was a flash of heat. The last thing he could remember was Viktor's voice.
"Ren, I'm sorry."
Ren's fate will be revealed on 9/8
