Caitlyn awoke in a daze. A fuzzy blob stood over her, lightly shoving her awake. "Sherrif! Are you okay?"

Caitlyn's vision sharpened into focus, and then she saw Kennen. "Kennen?"

The yordle ninja was worse for wear. His outfit was torn, and some blood trickled down a cut on his cheek. "My apologies that I didn't help you. I was set upon by a dozen ninja. They left as suddenly as they came. I wasn't able to use my full power in fear of destroying the train."

"The prisoners…" Caitlyn sat up slowly, and looked at the now empty chains laying on the floor. "The head ninja, Zed… he knocked me out me. He must have freed them."

"He knocked you out?" Kennen frowned. "I'm surprised he didn't kill you."

"So am I. But I'm glad he didn't." She grabbed her rifle as she stood up. "Do you know which direction they went? We have to cut them off."

Kennen shook his head. "I ran in here as soon as my attackers fled. You were out for a while. All this time the train has been moving steadily."

"Why didn't you stop the train?"

"Because there was no way we could challenge Zed and his ninja. We are better off regrouping at the capital with what we have learned."

Caitlyn thought for a moment. "Is there anything special about Zed and his group?"

"He and the Cabal were rumored to be linked. The fact that he came to free Jhin, someone that we know works for the Cabal, is solid evidence. The fact that both the Cabal and Zed's Order of Shadow are malevolent forces just means that their goals will align sooner rather than later."

Caitlyn nodded slowly. "I guess we should head to the capital. I need to catch Vi up with our developments at any rate." She pulled out her walkie talkie. "We should be getting close enough to the capital to get a signal. I'll be at the front of the train if you need me."

"We will help." Shen said, just behind her. Akali was in his arms for a moment before he let her down.

Caitlyn whirled around and bit her tongue before a vile oath left it. "How do you keep doing that?!"

"I'm a—"

"Yes, yes, a ninja." Caitlyn interrupted. "What happened to you?" She walked up to Akali and checked the bloody rags that made up her tunic near her stomach. "I saw what Zed did to you, how did you survive?"

"I used the healer's potion." Shen answered.

"My apologies." Akali said. "I knew you wanted to use it to heal your partner's back. If I were conscious at the time I would have stopped him from using it."

"No, that's fine." Caitlyn shook her head to reassure the ninja. "I'm disappointed a little, but Vi was never in danger of dying. You were."

"I am glad you see it that way."

"We should have gotten more than one." Shen added. "But that would have taken time we didn't have."

"I understand." Caitlyn walked past them as she spoke. "I just need to get to the front so I can speed this thing up. We don't know where Jhin and his companions are headed, and we need to regroup as fast as possible."

She closed the door behind her and walked to the window. The train was moving at a good pace, but Caitlyn knew the model and its capabilities. She reached to a level and pulled it, opening the more sensitive controls for the hextech engine itself. She fiddled with the controls, adjusting the output until the train noticeably sped up.

"Can we talk?" Akali asked.

Caitlyn jumped. She held a hand to her heart and muttered, "I swear this trip is going to raise my blood pressure." Out loud she said, "Sure thing, Akali. What's on your mind?"

Akali tugged her mask off and sighed dejectedly. "Have you ever loved someone?"

Caitlyn was surprised. "I wasn't aware you ninja felt… emotions."

A smile flickered across her face. "They tend to get in the way of the mission at hand. But I can't always stop them."

Caitlyn chuckled. "It only comes with being human. But to answer your question, I can't exactly say that I have. Not in the way you're suggesting. I love my parents, but I have been focused on my work for so long, I don't recall ever having romantic feelings for anybody. Why?"

Akali pressed her lips together. "It's Shen."

Caitlyn's face brightened. "That's sweet, I'm happy for you."

"I never told him." She continued.

"Oh."

"And he recently told me that he considered me and Kennen equals in his eyes."

Caitlyn winced. "I'm sorry."

"I should have told him sooner." She admitted. "But I was never one to express my feelings on much. I didn't think he was either. But not that it matters now, he clearly doesn't love me."

"I don't think that's true. Think about it, he basically gave up Jhin and Jinx, two people who we have been chasing for a while, to save your life."

"He would have done the same for Kennen. He told me as much."

She winced again. "It's possible he is bad at describing his feelings too?" She ventured.

"I don't know. But I am not sure I want to try. Perhaps I should just leave things as they are."

Caitlyn put a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "That's one of the worst things you can do. You'll live with regret if you don't take this chance. I may not know too much about confessions, but I can help you as best as I can." She pulled up a chair and offered Akali one. "Come, I'll put on a spot of tea and we can talk."