Silco is standing over powder. This realization had Vi leaping to her feet and dashing to her sister's aid. She didn't notice the enforcer that tried to grab her as she ran, missing the collar of her shirt by mere inches. All Vi could see was her baby sister crouched in fear below the man who had killed Benzo, taken Vander, and put her family through hell.

"No! Don't!" Vi cried as she ran, catching the attention of the scared man and his henchmen.

"Ah, there she is. Vander's little protégé. The girl he was going to give the city to and let her run it into the ground." Vi was confused by Silco's words, not knowing what he was talking about. Vander never owned the undercity, nor did he have the power to give it to anyone.

Vi was ripped away from her thoughts as she saw the knife in the industrialist's hand, pointing directly at her crying sister. The pink haired girl slammed her feet into the ground, stopping dead in her run. She stood a few feet away from the group, understanding that the knife meant that if she came any closer, he would hurt Powder.

"Let her go." Silco only Laughed at Vi's demand, playing with the knife in his hand.

"This thing? Why would you care for it? It set off the bomb that killed your family." The way Silco was referring to Powder as 'it' set Vi's teeth on edge, but she knew he was trying to get under her skin. She needed to be careful.

"I don't care. Let her go."

"Now now Violet, I think it would be fine for it to sit there while we talk." Vi clenched her jaw but was determined to not let Silco get to her.

"Fine, then talk." She needed to get Powder out of there and if talking to Silco moved the prosses along Vi could listen to his gloating for a few minutes.

"Oh Violet, always trying to cut right to the chase. Just like Vander." Silco smirked as he spoke. "I have an offer for you."

"I don't want anything from you." Vi regretted the words the moment they left her lips as Silco swung his dagger in a short arc, leaving a shallow cut on Powder's face. "No! Don't hurt her!" Powder was silently crying, tears now mixing with blood.

"The offer isn't just for you." Vi's blood ran cold. Silco was going to do something to Powder.

"Vi, I'm scared." Powder whimpered out, trying to only be heard by her sister.

"It's okay Pow, everything is going to be okay." Vi wanted desperately to sooth her sister but her words could only do so much.

"Yes, Violet. Everything will be okay so long as you agree to my terms." Silco interjected cooly, drawing Vi's attention back to him.

"What are your terms?" Vi ground out her words through clenched teeth, both angry that she had to ask and terrified of the answer.

"You will work for me. Guarding deliveries, running off enforcers, and protecting me from threats among other things. So long as you work for me, your little 'powder' will be safe." He spoke Powder's name with such disgust that Vi, had to use every ounce of self-control just to keep from snarling at him. "If you refuse… well, then I can't guarantee that she'll make it through the night." Silco moved the blade just a little closer to Powder for emphasis.

Vi looked back and forth between her sister and Silco. If she agreed she would be under Silco's thumb, forced to do anything he asked, but if she refused…

There was no choice. "Fine. I'll do it."

At her words, Silco sheathed his knife and took a few steps back, letting Vi run to comfort her little sister. Vi scooped Powder up into her arms and tried to shush her crying, telling her it was going to be okay over and over again.

The two sisters were given a couple of minutes to comfort each other before Vi felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Come Violet. There is much work to be done."

Vi Just gritted her teeth at being ordered around like a dog and picked up her sister, forcing her feet to follow Silco back to wherever he planned to keep her.

Vi quickly adapted to her new routine. Every morning was brutal training, sometimes with Sevika, sometimes with a shimmer enhanced partner. Vi was forced to adapt her fighting style from the brawler style Vander taught her to a dirtier type of fighting with more knee and elbow strikes. Vi didn't mind the change all that much, it helped her to keep from blocking with her face so much.

The mornings weren't the worst part of Vi's Day however as Silco always had her running his errands in the afternoons and evenings. Shimmer deliveries, Information gathering, firelight confrontations, Vi did it all. Nothing hurt more than the first time she realized that it was Ekko leading the firelight and that he thought she had willingly gone to fight for Silco. But Vi couldn't tell him the truth, not with Silco's eyes and ears everywhere.

If Vi ever tried to rebel against his orders or show mercy to someone he wanted ruffed up, he always knew and he always made her pay. It was only if Vi did everything Silco asked with no complaints and no complications that she was able to see Powder. He kept her sister locked in a dingy cell in the basement of his headquarters with only a mattress with a ratty blanket and an old stuffed rabbit for her to play with.

Vi tried to earn visitation privileges as often as she could but it didn't happen as often as she liked as she always seemed to run into ether enforcers or firelights on every mission, so Powder was alone a lot of the time. Vi noticed after a few visits that she was continuously talking as though someone was talking to her, even when Vi hadn't said anything. Upon bribing the guard who made his rounds down there, she learned that Powder had taken to talking to the voices in her head. The guard had told Vi that she often said the names "Mylo" and "Clogger" as well as "Jinx" when she spoke to herself. And if that last name didn't break Vi's heart…

The voices worried Vi, but there wasn't anything she could do about it so long as they remained Silco's prisoners.

There was one thing Vi enjoyed, even under Silco's thumb and that was running off enforcers. Vi loved watching their eyes widen in fear when they saw her, making the more cowardly of them run for their mommies in Piltover before the fight even began. A few brave enforcers always tried to take her down from time to time, but Vi enjoyed making an example of those enforcers. They were the troublemakers anyway.

Vi gave up looking for a way out from under Silo's influence after a couple of years. Every attempt to escape with powder or call for help was met with intense beating and starvation, luckily never for Powder. Vi took the punishments with vigor every time, even if Silco threatened to do worse to Powder the next time because of it.

So, Vi became shut down (it was the easiest way to work) only coming out during her short visits with her sister, resolved to her fate as Silco's personal weapon with no hope to dare to want anything else. But what Vi didn't know was that a pretty young enforcer was getting tired of all her superiors telling her that she couldn't go into the undercity and that she couldn't investigate all the enforcers' murders, nor could she investigate the new drug that had been making its way across the river lately.

Caitlin Kiramman was becoming determined to figure out the secrets of the undercity and find out just who was it that was making enforces terrified of making their way into its depths.

Caitlin was finally making her way down into the twisting alleys of the undercity after memorizing every map the precinct had available, only mildly terrified of every person and shadow she passed. She managed to cobble together a vague understanding of the layout of the undercity, but it didn't help much as Caitlin discovered that ether the precinct maps were old, or people were lying about the layout of buildings because the enforcer was hopelessly lost.

She knew she needed to find a place called "Jerico's". according to the most recent arrest from the undercity, this Jerico had information on everything that went on in the undercity and could help with her investigation. Caitlin was sure he would help, he would want to help her catch whoever was flooding the streets with drugs and killing enforcers, right?

Caitlin shook her head. He would help. He had to. Jerico was her only lead. Something flashed out of the conner of her eye, a movement on a nearby rooftop. Caitlin froze to stare at it for a few moments. Nothing. It was probably just a bird. Or at least, that is what Caitlin told herself as she marched on, determined to ignore the way the hair on the back of her neck stood up, almost like someone was watching.

Another enforcer. Just a single female enforcer. Even if She wasn't in uniform, Vi could still tell that she was armed by the way her hand kept grabbing at something under her jacket every time she got spooked. Which was a lot. The enforcer practically jumped at her own shadow.

Vi sighed. She had to leave in the middle of her dinner for this. A stupid enforcer who probably thought that they could clean up the undercity just by putting in extra effort as though no one had tried that before. Vi didn't even bother to change into her suit for it.

Normally Vi wore a special suit that Silco had made for her, it was a deep brown to blend in with the walls of the undercity and protected her more vital areas. It even gave her some armor on her hands for punching. Kind of like mini versions of Vander's old gantlets. The suit also had a hood for Vi to wear pulled up over her head to obscure her face. Sevika had told her that the hood was just an intimidation tactic as it made her look creepy since any light that would reflect off her steel-grey eyes would make it look like her eyes were glowing under the shadow of the hood.

Vi hated that suit.

It made people scared, and it was yet another reminder of her attachment to Silco. So, Vi ditched the suit for this mission. Not like she would need it to take on a single enforcer. She would need a plan to get to the enforcer so that she would never want to come back. Vi didn't need to kill her, just scare her enough so that she knows she isn't welcome in the undercity.

Vi smirked to herself. A piltie like her wouldn't even know the classic cons Vi could pull. Maybe she could do it just this once for old times' sake.

The brawler cut through a couple of alleyways to position herself in front of wherever the Piltie was walking to. She just needed to walk right into her path. The women fell for it hook, line, and sinker. While she was busy looking in the alleyways she was passing, the enforcer failed to notice Vi until she had shoulder checked her, then Vi simply growled out "Watch where you're going." As she pocketed the pistol she had swiped on contact. Now the enforcer was unarmed and rattled.

Vi made her way to the roofs, following the woman until she entered a side street that didn't have anyone else on it. How unlucky. Vi climbed down from the roof silently, watching the woman look and a map and reach back to where her gun had been holstered at the small of her back, only to freeze, wide-eyed, as she realized it was missing.

Having a lot of practice on how to make an entrance, Vi took the opportunity presented to her. "Looking for something?" she called out, pistol hanging off her finger by the trigger guard.

"You!" oh, she seemed mad. "You are the one who bumped into me earlier! You stole my gun!" Vi smirked at the enforcer, loving the way she shrunk back ever so slightly.

"So, she had a brain. Three for three, cupcake." Enforces loathed when Vi called them cutesy nicknames.

"Give me back my weapon! By the laws passed by-" ugh, Vi hated the little law speech every enforcer gave when they saw someone breaking the law. It was just stupid.

"Yeah, I don't give a shit." Vi cut her off, quickly drinking in her shocked expression. "Now, what you are going to do is get the hell out of my city and never come back. Capeesh?" Vi bared her teeth for a little extra effect and hoped the enforcer didn't want to fight. She was already covered in bruises from training with Sevika.

"I most certainly shall not!" classy. "I am here on an official investigation!" Vi raised an eyebrow.

"Are you supposed to be announcing that?" the enforcer sputtered, probably unable to comprehend why someone as low as Vi was calling her out on her bullshit.

"I-i…T-that is… it's none of your concern." Articulate. "Give me back my weapon so I can continue my investigation." Now Vi was just getting annoyed. She shot the enforcer her strongest glare and stomped her way over to where she was standing. The enforcer backed up just enough that her back hit the wall and Vi was able to trap her there by slamming her hands into the wall next to the enforcer's head.

"Listen here, Cupcake." The enforcer grimaced. Good. Vi was getting under her skin. "There will be no investigation. This can be ether be because you walked away or because I killed you. Pick one." Vi had no intention to actually kill the enforcer, she tried to avoid it if she could, but who in their right mind would pick death?

"I… umm…" the enforcer was at a loss for words, mumbling out nothing of importance.

Vi scoffed. "That is what I thought." The brawler then remover her hand from the wall to reveal two large divots where here she had made contact. Shaking the dirt off her hands, Vi reached across and grabbed the enforcer's ID badge, taking it from the woman's pocket and quickly reading it as she put it in her own.

"I better not be seeing you around, Caitlin Kiramman." Those should have been her parting words. she should have disappeared into the night right then and made her way back to Silco and Powder. But this enforcer had other plans.

"Why are you doing this?" it was a basic question. Something Vi even asked herself from time to time, but the answer remained the same as it did that terrible night.

"Because there is no other choice." Vi hadn't meant to respond, the words just slipped out.

Without looking back to see the enforcer's reaction to her words, Vi clambered up the side of the nearest building, leaving the pistol of the ground where the enforcer could find it and pulling herself onto the roof and mentally preparing for the long run home. However, she wasn't so focused that she didn't hear the soft "What does that mean?" coming from the street below.

It didn't matter. The enforcer should know better than to come back now.

Vi roof jumped her way home, just hoping she could get some sleep.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU KIRAMMAN!" Marcus roars at Caitlin upon receiving her report of her night in the undercity and her run in with the strange, pink haired woman. "You disobey direct orders by going into the undercity alone, you make yourself a target, and you lose your weapon to an undercity resident!" the sheriff counted off each offence on his fingers.

Caitlin flinch ever so slightly at the reminder of the fact that the woman had stolen her pistol so easily. Caitlin almost thought she was going to keep it, but she found it sitting on the ground in front of the building the woman scaled in her escape, meaning she never wanted to keep it. The woman was clearly just trying to scare her. With the stealing her gun, growling at her, punning her to the wall…

Cailin shook her head, as though trying to physically dispel the thoughts of the strange woman from her mind. "Sir, with all due respect-"

"No!" Marcus cut her off. "You are lucky I don't suspend you here and now. Pull something like this again and I'll have your badge. Even your family name won't be able to save your career." Marcus sneered at her before waving her out of his office.

"Yes sir" Caitlin mumbles and scrambled out the door and sat down at her desk, throwing her head into her hands. She couldn't stop thinking about what the woman had told her when she asked why she was running enforcers off.

'Because there is no other choice.' Caitlin could hear the voice echo in her mind, just as laced in despair and fear as it was the night before. Caitlin didn't know what she meant. all she knew was that she needed to go back. She needed to know what was going on.

Vi's body hit the ground hard. She had been training with Sevika all morning, the older woman putting her through her paces with her new mechanical arm. Vi hated that arm. It hit so much harder and injected Sevika with the shimmer needed to power it, giving Vi no hope of ever beating her in a fight.

Vi shook off the pain of Sevika's last hit, rolling to her feet and taking up the fighting stance the older woman had taught her so many years ago, only to have her opponent drop her guard and turn away.

"You are done for today. Go see Silco." It was daily ritual to visit Silco after training so he could go over the previous night's mission and brief her for any that would happen that evening. Even though it happened every day, Sevika always seemed to feel the need to remind Vi to go. Vi simply nodded in response to Sevika and made her way out the door before she could change her mind.

The entryway to Silco's office was guarded just as always, even if the guards were inept, he always insisted on keeping them around for emergencies. At least they always recognized Vi when she came to talk to Silco. They nodded at her and opened the door to let her into the large office.

"Ah, Violet. Have a seat." Silco always insisted on calling her Violet no matter how much she protested. So, Vi just stopped protesting. "Your mission yesterday. You didn't take your suit." Silco had eyes and ears everywhere, though why he cared so much about her suit was beyond Vi.

"Ya. It was just a single, newbie enforcer who thought they could fix things by just showing up. she wasn't worth it." Vi said back to Silco. She had gotten good at figuring out when he wanted an answer to a question/non-question over the last few years. "I pick-pocketed her gun, threatened her with it, then punched a hole in the wall beside her head so she knows she isn't welcome here."

Silco hummed in response. "Take your suit next time." it was as much of a 'good job' as Vi was going to get. "Nothing is planned for today. You may see your sister. You know here to go." Silco waved her out of his office.

Vi ran off, making her way down the twists and turns that lead to the old cells where her sister lived (read: held captive). Two guards also stood in front of her cell, just like always. They always seemed to be more sympathetic to Vi's satiation, but they never said anything to anyone and for that Vi was grateful. Powder would be the one to suffer if anyone found out.

The guards opened the door with a nod, one returned from Vi this time as she entered her sister's room. Just as always, the cell smelled like stale air and body odor with Powder sitting in the corner on the mattress with her stuffed rabbit.

"Powder?" Vi called out softly, hoping to make sure her little sister knew she wasn't a guard. Vi rejoiced in Powder's head popping up and her eyes lighting up once she saw her.

"Vi! It's been so long. Mylo said you were never coming back!" Vi didn't like that. Powder seemed to believe he was real.

"No, Pow-pow. I'll always come back." Powder frowned at her, as though she had insulted her.

"Sometimes I wish you wouldn't." The little girl murmured.

"What?" Vi would help herself, her sister wished she would go away forever.

"Well, if you come here, it means you are still with him!" Powder gestured wildly in the confined space. "It means he is still hurting you." Vi didn't have to ask who Powder was referring to, but she was devastated to hear that her sister thought she would ever leave her.

"If I go, he'll hurt you. And I can't let that happen, Pow, I just can't." Powder murmured something in response. "What was that, Pow?"

"I WISH YOU WOULD!" Powder screamed and Vi reeled back as though her sister had slapped her, and she had in everything but the physical sense. "Vi, you haven't tried to escape in years, you're killing yourself doing this, and I don't want to watch it anymore." Powder was crying hysterically now muttering to herself and people Vi couldn't see, and nothing Vi did could console her. So, the older of the two sisters simply clung to the other and waited for someone to come in and rip them apart. Until then, she would just have to try her best to comfort her sister, as well as herself.

When the guard finally removed her, Vi needed to calm down so went out into the lanes. She liked to be able to walk around her old stomping grounds without her uniform on. People still kept a healthy distance and glared at her but as long as she didn't start any fights, not that she had the energy to do that anyway, people left her alone. No one was stupid enough to attack Silco's "daughter".

Gods, Vi hated that. Silco had decided not long after taking her in that the best way to "keep Vi safe" was to spread the rumor that he had adopted her as his daughter. Sure, it made walking around town easier, but Vi still hated the idea that she would ever willingly stay with Silco after what he did.

Vi was planning on visiting Jerico's. his food still brought her comfort and remined her of a time before everything went to shit. It was a small blessing that Jerico kept his stand a neutral ground after Silco killed Vander, it allowed everyone to eat some good food without having to watch their back, even Vi was welcome there.

She was just turning the corner when a flash of blue caught her eye. Vi quickly slipped back into the shadows, she wasn't in the mood to fight some big shot enforcer with something to prove. They were always more trouble than they were worth when she wasn't on a mission. Vi kept hidden in the shadows, planning to let the enforcer pass by her and just report his name and badge number to Silco later so he could tell his rat Marcus and get them in trouble. However, the moment Vi saw who the enforcer was, she completely froze.

It was the female enforcer from the night before, the one wandering around the alleyways, the one who WASN'T SUPPOSED TO COME BACK. Vi knew this was bad. She reported that she had driven the woman off, not only was she in danger of punishment now, but Silco might decide to kill the enforcer out of spite. She needed to get that enforcer out of the undercity before anyone told Silco about her presence.

Waiting for her to get close, Vi stood in the small opening between a dumpster and a building, just out of her line of sight, and flashed out to grab the woman around her mouth and waist, pinning her arms to her sides at the same time. Vi quickly shoved the enforcer up against a wall, hardly even registering her struggling as she listened for incoming footsteps that might try to help the woman. The brawler kept her hand over the enforcer's mouth, hoping she would get the hint to be quiet.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Vi whisper yelled in her face, trying to hide her fear. "I told you to stay out of the undercity!" Vi's eyes darted back toward the opening of the alleyway. Still clear. She turned her gaze back to the enforcer. She was rather red. Vi didn't care all that much if she was angry, just that she was quiet.

A hard glare got the enforcer to calm down a bit. She let out a muffled "hmmm" under Vi's hand signaling that she was ready to speak. Vi removed the appendage but kept the enforcer pinned to the wall with her body weight, it was likely that she brough her gun again.

"And I told you I'm doing an investigation-" the enforcer tried to say but Vi cut her off.

"I told you there is no investigation! You can't be down here!" Vi felt fer voice rise slightly and she quickly looked back to the entrance of the alley again and to the other side in case she missed something just to make sure no one was listening. Vi never hoped so much that she looked like a common mugger.

When Vi turned back to the enforcer, her facial features looked almost… softer. Vi snarled, she hated pity, especially from topsiders. "I'm trying to catch whoever is distributing shimmer in the city-"

"You can't!" Vi interrupted her again locking her eyes on the wall so that she wouldn't see the look on the enforcers face. "It isn't possible." She mumbled the last part, having experience trying.

"It is." Vi felt the woman place her hand on her cheek, brushing her thumb across her "Vi" tattoo. Her name was the only thing she had been able to keep after… everything and she had been so determined not to lose it that she tattooed it right on to her face. Vi grabbed the enforcer's wrist, shoving her hand away roughly and taking a few steps back.

"Go to the end of the sewers, the place with the large tree. Look for the firelights. Ask for Ekko." Vi so hoped she wouldn't regret this. It would be Powder who was on the line for something like this. Vi scanned the Alley again, seeing no one but still keeping quiet as she made her way to the front of the alley. "Oh, and don't tell them I sent you."

Vi didn't wait for the enforcer's response. She could follow her advice, or she could get killed running blindly around the undercity, ether way it wasn't Vi's problem anymore. Maybe she let the hope of the moment get to her and sent the enforcer (Caitlin was her name, wasn't it?) to the only people who had any hope of beating Silco and that was probably a bad idea. Vi would just have to accept the consequences when Silco found out, it wasn't like she hadn't taken a beating before.

Vi made it to Jerico's to find a take-away box sitting on the counter with her name on it. Vi threw more than enough money on the counter to pay for the food and gave Jerico and thankful smile, he always knew what she needed.

Jerico Gave Vi his usual big smile, letting her leave with her food. She shot the enforcer one last glare as she exited the alleyway, still looking flustered, hoping the woman took it for a warning to ether find the firelights or get out of the undercity. Either way, Vi had some food and some hope for a quiet night off.

Caitlin immediately went back down into the undercity after her shift. She didn't care if Marcus was too scared to investigate the undercity, she had a job to do. It was the whole reason she signed up to be an enforcer.

This time, Caitlin stopped to ask for directions from a teenage girl. The girl cheerily gave her directions to Jerico's claiming "Everyone is welcome there." Before skipping away. She was probably high.

Caitlin could just see the shack that said "Jerico's" on the top when she felt a hand cover her mouth and an arm wrap around her waist, trapping her arms. Caitlin could feel her heart jump into her throat, that woman from the night before had just threatened her, this person could be worse. Vaguely, the enforcer registered the bandages wrapping the hand that was covering her mouth during her struggle to get away, they rubbed painfully against her cheeks and pushed her head into a nearby wall, keeping her from moving as well as speaking.

It was then that Caitlin saw the pink hair. Her face immediately flushed as she realized the same woman who had stolen her gun was now using her entire body to pin Caitlin to the wall. She forced herself to still, watching as her companion scanned their surroundings with a surprising intensity considering how casual she had seemed before.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" the woman hissed, eyes still darting around. "I told you to stay out of the undercity!"

She seemed different from before. More… twitchy. Like she was waiting for someone to jump out of the shadows and attack her. Caitlin struggled to focus on what she was doing with the other woman still pressed against her, though the glare was helping. She mumbled into the bandaged hand to remind the woman she couldn't speak with it covering her mouth.

"And I told you I'm doing an investigation-" Caitlin retorted as soon as the hand was removed from her mouth, but found herself cut off again.

"I told you there is no investigation! You can't be down here!" Caitlin paused at that. The woman sounded rather desperate. She scanned the alley yet again, even though no one had even approached the area, causing Caitlin to wonder what had her so wound up. Was the woman in danger? It would make sense with her mannerisms.

Caitlin didn't know what to think. She must have shown that confusion or something else on her face because the pink haired woman snarled at her once they locked eyes again. Caitlin gulped, trying to sallow down her fear.

"I'm trying to catch whoever is distributing shimmer in the city-"

"You can't!" the woman interrupted her yet again. "It isn't possible." If Caitlin was annoyed at the interruptions at first, she wasn't anymore. The fighter just deemed so defeated.

"It is." Caitlin didn't know what possessed her to bring her hand up to cradle the woman's face, but was presently surprised to find the woman leaning into the touch. Cailin's heart soared for a moment, delighted at the idea of bringing comfort to this woman. Caitlin drank in her expression as the other woman kept her gaze locked on the ground, it was one of contemplation that soon morphed into determination as she pushed Caitlin hand away.

"Go to the end of the sewers, the place with the large tree. Look for the firelights. Ask for Ekko." She pulled away from Caitlin who found herself missing the contact immediately and walked to the opening of the alley. "Oh, and don't tell them I sent you." Caitlin wanted to call out to the woman, but found her words caught in her throat, preventing her from speaking before the woman was just… gone.

Caitlin stayed leaning against that alley wall for a few more moments, just trying to take a few breaths and think about the encounter. She could follow the woman's advice and risk being luwered into a trap or she could follow the lead she had been looking for and find this "Ekko". Caitlin kept thinking back to the look of pain and hopelessness on the woman's face that had turned to determination as she told her to find the firelights. Those couldn't be faked, not that well. Caitlin sighed, she was going to ruin her uniform in the sewers, wasn't she?

Cailin exited the alley, looking for an entrance to the sewers that she knew resided by the public buildings of the undercity, catching just one more glimpse of the pink haired woman glaring at her before she disappeared into the crowd. She shuttered. Something about that woman really got under Caitlin's skin, the whole "cupcake" thing really sticking out in her mind, but she wasn't sure why.

The entrance to the sewer wasn't as bad as Caitlin anticipated it would be, though she would likely still have to get her uniform professionally cleaned to get out the smell. Caitlin wasn't sure how far it was to the "end" of the sewer, but it seemed to be a straight shot with no other passages to choose from so Caitlin just let her mind wander as she walked.

She was supposed to be looking for a group called the firelights and a person named Ekko. Where had she heard of the firelights before? The name seemed familiar, but Caitlin had never heard it in regard to one of her investigations. That must mean that they only operated within the boundaries of the undercity. Were they trying to shut down the new drug distribution too? Did they know who was attacking all the enforcers who entered the undercity?

Caitlin's mind was buzzing with the possibilities. These people could be just the break she was looking for. Marcus would have to take her seriously then! Maybe that pink-haired woman would even help. Caitlin stumbled as the thought of the mysterious woman. Why did she seem so scared? Why did she insist that Caitlin leave? Why did she have the roman numeral six tattooed on her face?

Lost in her thoughts, Catlin didn't hear the sound of approaching hoverboards until they were right on top of her. She barely had time to register what was happening before one of the masked people on the hover board smashed a club into her chest, sending her flying back into the brick wall of the sewers. Caitlin tried to pull her gun, but only just got it out of its holster when she was hit with the crystal grenade, trapping all her completely, leaving only her head uncovered.

what was it with people from the undercity pinning her to walls?

"Hey! What is the meaning of this?!" The firelights didn't seem all that concerned with her question as the leading one walk over to stand in front of her.

"Who else is with you?" the distorted voice threw Caitlin off for a moment, but she recovered quickly.

"I came alone. I'm looking for Ekko and the firelights."

The firelight tilted his head in an effort to display his curiosity from behind the unmoving mask. "How would an enforcer know those names?" Now Caitlin was stuck. Does she tell them about the pink haired women? Why did she even insist that Caitlin not tell anyone she was involved?

"I'm investigating shimmer in the undercity. I want to shut it down." The enforcer settled for a non-answer, just hoping it would suffice. Caitlin felt uncomfortable as she could almost see the firelights eyes narrow as he examined her, she would have squirmed if she had the ability.

The atmosphere just seemed to get more tense the longer the firelight examined her, finally breaking when he grunted, turning around to snatch a black bag from another firelight, and shoving the bag over Caitlin's head. The enforcer struggled and thrashed but as her body was still trapped by the crystals she couldn't do much as the bag was forced over her head. With her eyesight suddenly cut off, Caitlin focused on her other senses only to smell something chemical inside.

Caitlin tried to shove down her panic as she felt her brain get heavier. They were trying to knock her out! Caitlin fought to stay awake, but knew she was losing the fight as her eyes slid shut and wouldn't open again. The last thing she felt was colliding with the ground as the crystal pinning her to the wall was broken and everything went dark.

The first thing Caitlin felt as she came to, was the restraints wrapping around her wrists, keeping her locked against a pole behind her. The bag was still over her head, observing her vision so she couldn't learn anything else about where she was. The only thing she could head was muffled noises coming from outside whatever room she was in.

The restraints held firm when Caitlin tested them, they didn't move in the slightest. She had been set up. Marcus would definitely fire her if she got out of this. The enforcer was just starting to think of ways to get even with the pink haired woman when she heard the door opening. She could just make out the outline of boots coming closer to her through the fabric of the bag.

Before she could try to make out more details through the fabric, it was removed, causing Caitlin to squint against the sudden light. Once adjusted, Caitlin saw she was in some kind of fortified tree house, little pieces of metal scrap laying around, and, most importantly, the firelight with the wolf mask from the tunnel was standing in front of her.

"What do you know about shimmer?" the distorted voice asked, the firelight completely unmoving.

"I know it's a drug running ramped down here as well as making its way topside. And I know Marcus won't investigate it." Caitlin suddenly realized she didn't know very much about this case outside of the strange woman with an infatuation for pinning her to walls.

"Marcus is a rat. Of course he won't investigate." The firelight turned away from her and started to mess with some of the scrap sitting at a workbench as Caitlin's brain raced. Marcus was dirty? He was part of the shimmer operation? That would explain why he got so mad she was investigating. But why would he get involved? She was missing something. Something big.

"Marcus is dirty?" she started with her first question, causing the firelight to turn back around and look at her. "He tried to fire me for looking into this." That got the firelight's attention.

"He did?" Caitlin nodded. "Hmmm, that means he left something to be found." The firelight approached Caitlin with long, quick strides, causing her to try to take a step back, but only found herself backed farther into the pole she was chained to and the firelight just inches from her face. "But why should I trust an enforcer?"

The question threw Cailin for a loop. Why should he trust her? Her boss was working for whoever distributed shimmer and she was sent there by someone who said specifically to not mention them. "Because I can get into Marcus's personal files and tell you what he is up to." Did she just sell out her boss?! And agree to get into confidential enforcer documents which could get her arrested?! Apparently, she did.

The firelight didn't respond for a few moments, scanning her face for deception. They then suddenly grabbed one of Caitlin's shacked wrists, bringing it in between the two, and unlocking it, all in one swift motion. "Do it. If you find anything good, bring it back to the tunnels. We'll find you." Caitlin shuttered, thinking about the last time they found her in the tunnels but hopefully they would be nicer if she became a potential ally.

Caitlin followed the firelight out of the room to see a massive tree in the largest tunnel she had ever seen, though she didn't have much time to admire it as the firelight pulled her back into one of the smaller tunnels and led her though its twists and turns back to the surface. The surface of the undercity at least.

"Thank you." Caitlin called out to the firelight who was already retreating back into the tunnels.

"Thank me by getting the files." They called over their shoulder as they disappeared into the shadows of their tunnels.

Caitlin looked around to find herself back where she started. At Jerico's. Great. She was deep in undercity territory at who knows how late and still needed to get to work in the morning. With a sigh, Caitlin started the trek back topside, silently wondering if she remembered to buy her favorite coffee mix for the morning. She had only walked a few blocks when a familiar presence made itself known.

"You probably shouldn't walk around this place by yourself cupcake, especially not in the middle of the night." Caitlin turned her head to the nearest alleyway and sure enough the mysterious woman was standing there, leaning against the building, perfectly hidden from anyone using the tunnel entrance she had come out of.

"It wasn't exactly my idea to stay out this late." Caitlin retorted, chuckling a little now that the woman seemed far less tense. "What about you? Shouldn't you have gone home hours ago?" okay, so maybe Caitlin was trying to learn more about the woman, she was curious.

The woman just scoffed in response. "No one would attack me on these streets, even if they did, I can handle myself." Caitlin was inclined to agree with that statement given how the woman had bested her twice and her muscles… no, bad Caitlin. Focus.

"What are you out here for?" the woman dropped Caitlin's gaze to look around the area before shrugging. "Did you wait here for me?" so teasing the dangerous lady was probably not Cailin's smartest idea, but the risk paid off then the woman sputtered and turned red.

"No! I was just enjoying my food nearby and saw you come out of the tunnels."

"You were enjoying your food? All night long?" Caitlin couldn't help but keep pushing just a little bit, using her teasing words as cover to take a few steps forward.

"Shut up cupcake." The request didn't have any bite behind it and did nothing to make Caitlin stop moving toward the woman.

Once she was within reaching distance, Caitlin saw the six roman numeral tattoo on the woman's face again. Without thinking, the enforcer reached out to touch it. Both women were surprised, but neither pulled away. A sort of peace washed over them, like they weren't in one of the most dangerous places in the city in the early hours of the morning. For a few precious moments, the two women simply enjoyed the serenity that came from the city.

"What does it mean?" And just like that, the peace was broken. It had been a well-meaning question, but it appeared to make the street fighter more aware of the situation and her surroundings as she gently pushed Caitlin's hand away and took a step back into the shadows of the alley.

"At progress day, if you see anything weird, run the other way." Caitlin blinked in surprise. Run the other way? Why? What was with this lady and just giving her orders?

"I can't just run away. It is my job to-" The enforcer tried to reason, though she didn't know why she felt the need to justify herself to this woman.

"Just run the other way, Caitlin!" both women froze at the use of her real name. Caitlin knew the woman knew her name, but she hadn't used it outside of threatening her. The street fighter broke the tension by sighing. "I don't know about you, cupcake, but I prefer you alive." Something bad was going to happen on progress day, wasn't it?

"What is-" Caitlin tried to ask but the woman had already turned out and cut her off.

She called back over her shoulder "Oh, and maybe clean yourself up. I dig the 'dirty trencher' look you got going on there, but I have a feeling your topsider friends won't approve." Caitlin took a second to look down at herself to see she was caked in mud and lord knows what else. You couldn't even see her uniform through the grime. Caitlin looked back up after inspecting her uniform to find the woman gone.

With a deep sigh, Caitlin started walking again. This situation was only getting more and more confusing. First this woman attacks her, then helps her with her investigation, then warns her about danger and admits she likes her! Well, she said 'I prefer you alive' but that has to mean something.

And progress day was tomorrow. What was going to go down? Caitlin was going to have to be on high alert, meaning even more coffee would be needed to keep her awake. Caitlin groaned at the thought. RIP her sleep schedule.

Caitlin was already in Piltover, clean of the muck from the undercity and about to get far too few precious hours of sleep when she realized something. She never asked the pink haired woman for her name.

Vi didn't know why she felt the need to stay in the area. Maybe it was to clear her head after everything that happened with Powder and the enforcer, but she climbed to the top of a nearby building, watching the people scurry around of the streets as she ate her dinner. Powder seemed to be getting worse. Vi knew that too long in solitary confinement was enough to dive a person crazy, and Powder had been there, mostly alone for four years. Vi would do anything to protect her sister, but soon she wasn't sure just how much of her sister would be left if she stayed where she was.

Not for the first time, vi cursed her situation. She was stuck under Silco's thumb, unable to ask for help as he used her to hurt people and slowly destroyed her sister. It had been so long since she even tried to escape from Silco, he just always seemed to know what she planned and stopped her before she could get anywhere. Maybe she was missing something, some part she didn't have before.

Vi saw the enforcer leave the tunnels with Ekko. So, she had found the firelights after all? Good for her, she didn't get killed. As the fighter watched her walk away, a thought struck her. Maybe she wasn't missing something, but someone to help.

The enforcer had sounded so genuine about wanting to help the undercity, anyone that dedicated to getting rid of a simple drug would leave a little girl to rot away in a cell. Right? Vi knew better that to trust enforcers, but something in her just wanted to trust this one. Or maybe she was just desperate. Either way, this might be her last chance to get Powder out before her mind cracks and she is gone for good.

Vi jumped down into a nearby alleyway, waiting for the enforcer to walk in front of it. It would be safe to speak more openly this time, no one could see the enforcer uniform though the mud and junk that covered her and the bars hadn't quite closed yet so no one in their right minds would be on the streets.

"You probably shouldn't walk around this place by yourself cupcake, especially not in the middle of the night." Vi took amusement in the shock written all over the enforcer's features. She really was openly expressive. It was a nice change of pace from the closed off expressions of people in the undercity, each with something to hide.

"It wasn't exactly my idea to stay out this late." Caitlin retorted, chuckling. "What about you? Shouldn't you have gone home hours ago?" should she have? Yes. Did she want to? no. being in Silco's hideout was suffocating. The open rooftops of the undercity were better.

"No one would attack me on these streets, even if they did, I can handle myself." It was the truth. No one would attack her while she was under Silco's protection, no matter how much she didn't want it. And anyone else, she would happily fight.

"What are you out here for?" Vi looked away from Caitlin, scanning the area to see if anyone was paying too much attention to their conversation. Luckily, the few people around all seemed more interested whatever they were doing then two strangers talking. As for the answer to the question. Vi just shrugged, only to see a small grin form on the other woman's face. "Did you wait here for me?"

"No! I was just enjoying my food nearby and saw you come out of the tunnels." And got lost in thought, but that didn't matter. Vi could feel her face heat up in embracement.

"You were enjoying your food? All night long?" oh, this girl was pushing her safety now, especially with the way she was walking closer to Vi.

"Shut up cupcake." Vi meant it as an order, but it sounded more like a tease. Vi saw the enforcer walking closer but couldn't find it in herself to stop her. Caitlin then surprised her again by daring to touch her face, seemingly looking at her tattoo. Then Vi felt something she never had before. Like she didn't need to run, like she was… safe. Vi had never been safe, not even before Silco. But this feeling… Vi just wanted to revel in it forever.

"What does it mean?" the words broke whatever spell had come over Vi. She wasn't safe and she never would be, Vi needed to remember that. She needed to push this woman away, but she couldn't seem to put more force into the gesture, so she took a step back instead. Vi couldn't afford to show such weakness.

"At progress day, if you see anything weird, run the other way." Caitlin just stared at her for a moment and Vi inwardly berated herself. Telling an enforcer something illegal was going to happen? That was the worst thing she could have done! If Silco found out he would slaughter her and Powder!

"I can't just run away. It is my job to-" And Vi snapped. Couldn't this prissy topsider see that she was risking everything to try to help her, and she wouldn't even listen!

"Just run the other way, Caitlin!" both women froze at the use of her real name. Vi didn't mean to use it, it just slipped out, much like everything else around this girl. The street fighter broke the tension by sighing. "I don't know about you, cupcake, but I prefer you alive." And the strangest part was she did want Caitlin to stay alive. And it didn't seem like saving Powder was the only reason.

"What is-" But Vi was done. She had already given away enough. Though, maybe one last tease was in order.

"Oh, and maybe clean yourself up. I dig the 'dirty trencher' look you got going on there, but I have a feeling your topsider friends won't approve." Vi chucked at the enforcer's horrified expression as she looked over her uniform, making sure to slip into the shadows so Caitlin couldn't see her anymore before running home.

Besides, Vi had a big day tomorrow. She had a shipment of simmer to protect.

Progress day was always the busiest day of the year for enforcers, so Caitlin thought she would be occupied looking for threats (especially the one the pink haired woman warned her about) but Caitlin reported in that morning to the unpleasant surprise that her parents had her reassigned to guard their tent in the middle of the fair grounds. That place was already so heavily guarded area so having a guard just standing in the middle of it was completely unnecessary!

Caitlin was resigned to just stand their board out of her mind after talking to Jace for a few minutes when a commotion at the end of the fair grounds caught her attention. The enforcer looked around to see if anyone else saw it, but no one seemed disturbed nor did hey seem to be paying attention to Caitlin.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to do something, Caitlin sneaked away and toward the commotion. A few other enforcers were around, making Caitlin feel more at ease, and they all seemed to be investigating some kind off fallen airship.

Fallen airships happened quite often on progress day, usually because someone who drank a little too much wanted to show off to some girl or to their buddies. It was annoying but with all the extra safety features Jace added to the air ships, usually not harmful. However, this air ship was charred on the inside and rattled with bullet holes, showing something other than the usual drunk brought it down.

Just as she was about to investigate some of the holes, Caitlin heard a noise. She turned to check it out when the strangers warning echoed in her head. 'At progress day, if you see anything weird, run the other way.' And 'I don't know about you, cupcake, but I prefer you alive.' In that moment, Caitlin felt rather inclined to take the pink haired woman's advice, not only had she pointed her in the direction of people who could help her investigation, but right then Caitlin's gut agreed with the idea of being far, far away from that air ship.

The topsider snuck away in the same fashion she snuck onto the crash sight and was just about back to her post when she realized something. Marcus was the one investigating the crash, so he would be busy and out of the office, leaving his files open to any enforcer with access to the file room. Caitlin steeled herself, she promised to get those files and a better opportunity to do so would not present itself for a long time, so she turned away from her family's tent (its not like they needed protection anyway) and made the quick, half mile walk to the precinct.

It was at the halfway point that an explosion rattled the ground. Caitlin wheeled around to see the downed airship in flames, civilians and enforcers alike trying to escape the heat of the flames as more enforcers showed up with fire extinguishers, trying to smother the flames. Caitlin swallowed the bile rising in her throat. That explosion came from the exact place she was standing not more than 5 minutes ago.

Pushing past her sense of extreme guilt, Caitlin continued her journey to the precinct. Maybe now she would have even more time to get the right files. Upon arriving, Caitlin noticed that the precinct was practically abandoned, every enforcer either out guarding the progress day celebration or dealing with the fallen airship.

Caitlin quickly unlocked to door to the file room, not bothering to sign her name on the sign in sheet. She didn't need it getting traced back to her if anyone realized the files went missing. The files for all the sheriffs were kept in the back in chronological order, Marcus's area being the smallest.

The first thing Caitlin noticed upon reviewing a few of the files was that most were ether unsolved or the no one was named as committing the crime, Marcus just claimed that it was 'handled withing the confides of the undercity', something every enforcer knew to mean that the perp got killed before they could be arrested. A shocking number of sheriff Marcus's files had this conclusion, far too often for it to be true every time.

The largest file in the Marcus's section was the very first one, it was thicker than most of his other files combined. Caitlin pulled it out to see a familiar picture, one of Jace's apartment after it had been robbed and blown up.

Caitlin swallowed the plethora of emotion the picture brought up, deciding to look further at the following investigation. She never had gotten much updates about it, just that some gang from the undercity had done it then nothing else, Caitlin thought that maybe if she found the conclusion to the case it would settle her nerves.

That hope was blown just as sky high as the airship from earlier when a picture of Sheriff Grason' bashed in skull greeted her. Caitlin had no idea that was the case that killed Grayson, Marcus always said it didn't matter and some violent undercity resident had killed her in cold blood.

Caitlin flipped through the file with a distinct urgency, she never knew what happened to her old mentor and it seemed that Marcus ether knew or didn't bother to try to find out who killed the last sheriff. The only thing Caitlin found out about it was a large donation to the city was made in her honor by someone named "Silco". Caitlin wracked her mind for someone named Silco, wasn't he an industrialist in the undercity? Why would he care about the old sheriff?

Once she returned to the other files, Caitlin kept coming across the name "Silco", almost always giving a generous donation to something or another in Piltover. No one from the undercity did that, they knew the trenches would likely never see a cent of that donation again if they invested it topside. Maybe Ekko would know.

Caitlin gathered up the chosen pictures and reports into her arms, sliding the rest back into place so no one would notice anything was missing. It was rather unlikely that anyone would bother to go through Sheriff Marcus's files, they all considered him to be the perfect enforcer so who would ever check his work?

On her way out, Caitlin stopped and grabbed one of her own cases, sliding the papers into the folder with her own investigation. No one would bat an eye at how thick it was, Caitlin was rather known around the precinct for her incredibly detailed reports. Her last second thinking saved her as Caitlin open the file room door to find Marcus.

"What are you doing her Kairamman?" Caitlin was afraid Marcus was on to her, but she quickly schooled her expression to a small smile.

"I was grabbing a case I'm working on, sir. I had some time tonight and thought I would go over it again." Marcus looked at the front of the case file, seeing the label 'ice cream store robbery' from a couple weeks ago.

"Very well." Marcus said as he shoved passed her into the file room, flipping through a senior enforcer's files. "At least you've given up this obsession with the undercity." He grumbled the last part under his breath, but Caitlin still heard it.

Marcus had no idea how wrong he was.

Caitlin took a deep breath as she made her way out of the precinct, she needed to get back to the tunnels as soon as possible.

The underside of the airship was cramped due to all the barrels of shimmer. Vi could feel her muscles cramping the longer she spent in the small space. She just wanted this shipment over with so she could get back to Powder, even if Vi couldn't see her it always brought her comfort to know her sister was nearby.

Vi was only riding along to protect the shipment of shimmer as it was one of the largest Silco ever attempted as well as it being progress day, a lot of things could go wrong. At least, that was what Vi thought for the first hour of the flight, but after hour two she was just board. The shimmer was supposed to go to some businessman topside so the trip was taking forever.

Just as Vi was starting to consider a nap, a series of loud thumps from above her head sounded off, causing the brawler to jump to her feet and dash out of sight of the trap door. Vi managed to get out of sight just as two firelights entered the bowels of the ship.

Vi bit back a curse. The firelights were a pain on the best day, now they were major trouble. Vi couldn't let them ruin this shipment of Silco would want his pound of flesh, most likely from her. Luckily, Vi set up several traps, including a trip line the firelights were rapidly approaching.

The firelights tripped on Vi's trip line, falling face first on to a pressure plate that activated and shocked them just enough to knock them out. Vi then grabbed them both by the collars of their shirts and dragged them onto the deck.

Vi immediately found herself in the middle of a warzone. Sevika was pinned to a wall by crystals, a dozen firelights were fighting and trying to create sparks to set the shimmer ablaze, and a handful of Silco's hired muscle was trying to fight them. Vo didn't hesitate to join in the fight, dodging and weaving around the firelights' hoverboards as they tried to take her down. She managed to find a good rhythm of dodging and tripping up the firelights that charged in at her when one dropped off their board, landing in front of Vi in a fighting stance.

Guilt filled Vi as she stared at the familiar mask. A wolf mask. She knew the firelight in front of her was Ekko, but she couldn't let that get to her, Vi needed to win this fight or it was Powder who was on the line.

Ekko had gotten much better at fighting over the years. He was fast and slippery, plus with the new hooked staff he added to his arsenal, he was a deadly enemy. Especially since he hated Vi. What a joy, she was stuck in a fight she had to win, against an opponent she couldn't hurt. Vi continued to strike out at Ekko, but the only thing she could think was "Powder would be so disappointed."

Ekko jabbed at Vi with his staff, forcing her to grab it in order to redirect it to the side. She tried to wrestle it from Ekko's grip, but the boy stubbornly kept a hold of his weapon. Vi had just tried to twist it away again when Ekko stepped into her, shoving the staff with such force that it slipped right between her fingers, slicing its way through the skin on her bicep.

Vi grabbed her arm to stop the bleeding, leaving herself open to Ekko's front kick which sent the pink haired girl falling to the deck. Vi went to get up, but immediately found the staff aimed in her face. However, the point of the staff wasn't where Vi found her focus. Ekko's eyes stared down at her with a cool disgust and hatred, one that showed he had given up on Vi, once and for all. It broke the girl's heart to see, but she knew it was better this way. She had burned far to many bridges for anything else.

"Light it up." The words broke Vi out if her thoughts and gave the firelights all the encouragement they needed. The simmer was up in smoke before Vi could even stand. She needed to get out of there. It was a little-known fact that while shimmer was highly flammable, if it reached a lot of the drug at once, it would violently explode.

Finding an opening in Ekko's focus on the fire, Vi slapped the staff away, barely cutting her hand as she raced away. The fighter didn't hesitate to slam her fist into the crystal holding Sevika, shattering it and freeing her. Together, the two jumped ship onto the nearest building and watched as the firelights followed their lead, albeit on their hover boards.

Vi watched the ship go down and, despite everything she should be worried about, just hopped that Caitlin listened to her and would stay out of that damn ship.

The tunnels were a lot less terrifying the second time, especially as the firelight didn't ambush Caitlin his time and instead just met her near their tree.

"You got the files so soon?" the electronic voice greeted her, though the firelight himself looked slightly worse for wear.

"Yes, an exploding airship provides a good distraction for one to steal the sheriff's personal case files." Caitlin noticed the firelight cringe ever so slightly at the mention of the airship, but she decided not to comment on it and just file the information away for later.

The firelight led Caitlin back through the tunnels and to the large tree, which was just as beautiful as the first time she had seen it. Many children were flying around on hoverboards, some throwing a ball back and forth to each other in some kind of game Caitlin didn't recognize.

"This way." The firelight led her around to one of the back rooms, taking the files from her and flipping through them. "Donation to the enforcers, donation to Piltover universities, donation to topside hospitals…" the firelight muttered, noticing the same thing Caitlin did.

"I take it you see Silco repeatedly donating to organizations topside? Ones that coincidentally put sheriff Marcus in the counsel's good graces after something in the undercity goes unsolved." The firelight looked up at her surprised, and started flipping back through the papers.

"Damn. You're right. There's even more when the council was looking into Silco." The firelight continued to look through the papers.

"You can take off your mask. It has to be hard to read in that." The firelight stared at her for a few seconds more before slowly undoing the latches holding the mask to his face and removing it.

"Guess you've proven yourself. I'm Ekko, I started the firelights." Caitlin took in the boy's appearance, he had an hourglass painted on his face and couldn't be older than 20. Someone so young started all this? How? And why?

"I had a good reason." Ekko chuckled at Caitlin who flushed as she realized she had spoken out loud. "Come on, I'll show you." Ekko carefully placed the files in a safe that had three locks, then led Caitlin back out into the courtyard to a mural she hadn't noticed before.

"Wow." The mural was filled with people, some young, some old, all of them clearly loved by all the detail and care put into their faces. "It's beautiful."

"It is all the people we've lost. Everyone of us who died fighting Silco," Ekko's voice cracked. "Since the very beginning."

One face caught Caitlin's attention. A young girl with pink hair was violently scribbled out, making her face unidentifiable. "Who's that?"

"Silco's weapon. She used to be one of us, until she left to work for him." Ekko spat, clearly disgusted. "She was there when silco killed her family and she still…" Ekko gestured to four other faces, two boys, a man with a beard, and a little girl with blue hair. "Vi even let that monster adopt her. She just replaced Vander with his killer. I just wish I knew why."

Wait. Vi? Pink hair? The roman numeral six tattoo? And wouldn't 'Silco's weapon' have reason to chase enforcers out of the undercity? And to be afraid when they didn't leave? That girl was Vi. Ekko said Silco killed her family and then welcomed her into his own, But it didn't really seem like that was where she wanted to be. "Because there is no other choice."

Ekko looked at her, confused. "Ekko, if I can find proof of Silco dealings, ether bribes or with drugs, I can put him away, even Marcus won't be able to clear his name. But I need someone else's help." Caitlin was sticking her neck out on this, but she was sure it would work out.

"Who?"

Caitlin paused. "My informant. The one who sent me to you." Springing a surprise reunion between Ekko and Vi was probably a bad idea, but he would definitely not go if she told him who they were meeting.

Ekko evaluated her. "Fine, set it up for tomorrow at 9. You can spend the night here. Get some rest, I'll look through the files." Caitlin nodded and watched as Ekko walked back to the room they were previously in.

After a few moments, the enforcer slipped out the side tunnel she had left through the day before. Caitlin had a message to deliver.

"A dozen enforcers, dead!" Vi listened as Silco chewed out whatever henchman set up the explosives on the airship and fought the urge to roll her eyes. The man was clearly not an expert on explosives, especially with how badly he overestimated the amount of firepower needed to destroy all the evidence on the airship. Even Vi could have done better with only her vague memory of listening to Powder rant about explosives when they were children.

However, Vi was just happy Silco didn't blame her for losing the shipment as he was far too occupied with the guy who blew the ship into next Tuesday. Of course, Vi could understand. It would probably be a while before the heat cooled off and Silco hatted any extra attention from topside.

"But boss I just-" Silco refused to even let the guy explain.

"You are just lucky the explosives managed to do the one thing I wanted them to do and destroy the ship's connection to me. Now get out of my sight before that luck runs out." The man scrambled out of the room, almost tripping twice before making it out the door. Vi snickered at his fear but froze herself as Silco's icy glare turned on her. "And you. You lost our biggest shipment of shimmer ever. This is going to set us back weeks, Violet! Weeks!" Vi dropped her gaze to the floor I shame, she couldn't even think of a single defense for herself.

"Now I have to call the client and smooth things over and-" Silco cut himself off mid-rant. "What happened to your arm?" Vi jumped at the sudden question and glanced to her arm. Sure enough it was bleeding again. She quickly covered it with a hand so Silco would get a good look at it.

"Got nicked by a firelight who had a bladed staff. It barely cut through the suit." Silco hated when Vi damaged her suit, he said it was made of very expensive materials and took time to fix. Time she wasn't worth.

Vi would just have to patch it herself. She was already in enough trouble.

"Very well. Expect Sevika to step up the intensity on your training. Something like this can not happen again. Do you understand?" Vi gulped and nodded, the threat in Silco's voice clear. "Go clean yourself up. you look like a mess."

Vi made her way back to her room quickly (Not scrambling thank you very much. She was not a coward like the men) and grabbed her emergency sewing equipment. It was a habit she had taken up after damaging her suit for the first time, Silco had taken it to get fixed while Sevika dragged her through the worst training session she ever had. Vi could feel her muscles ache at the memory, and now she would probably have to put up with it again as Silco was stepping up her training. Again. Vi would just have to make do. She always did.

Vi had just threaded the needle and was ready to patch the needed area when she noticed that the slice didn't go clean through all the material, part of it was only sliced halfway, revealing a kind of pocket. Now, Vi was no fashion expert, but she knew that you don't waste material in the lanes, so why was their extra fabric in her suit?

A short exploration of the pocket reviled a small silver disc, about the size of a quarter. Vi stared at it, wondering where she had seen them before. She through for a few moments before a memory flashed before her eyes, one of an old mission. Silco had been convinced that one of his underlings was planning to betray him and wanted proof, so he sent vi to break into the guy's office and plant listening devices all throughout it.

Listening devices that looked just like the disc she was currently holding.

Vi dropped the device and pushed herself backwards, falling down in her attempt to get away from it. Silco… bugged… her. Vi always thought he had eyes and ears everywhere, but it was all just her. She was his eyes and ears, that's why he always knew what she was planning. Vi had practically lived in that suit for two years after Silco "adopted" her. She had always told powder her plans.

Tears leaked from vi's eyes and her breathing picked up. Everything she had ever done in the last four years, he had been there, listening to every moment every word, every despite attempt to escape. That was why he always insisted she wear the suit… and why he never found out about her warning Caitlin.

The world froze around Vi. She hadn't been wearing the suit when she talked to Caitlin. Silco didn't hear their conversation about her coming back, he didn't hear her send the enforcer to the firelights, and he didn't hear her warn the other woman about progress day.

Silco had no idea she had been talking to Caitlin. Maybe she still had a chance.

Vi stuffed the bug back into the pocket she found it in before sewing it shut. It wasn't the prettiest sewing job, but it would work.

"Violet, I heard a crash. Is everything alright?" Silco heard her fall. Did he hear it through the door or through the bug. Did he know she found them? Vi opened her door to see Silco looking proper as ever in his working suit. He must have come directly from his office.

"Ya, I just fell. I hit the ground kinda hard after jumping from the airship." Silco examined Vi as she gave her answer, making her feel like one of powders old bombs. He didn't seem convinced but hummed in acknowledgment anyways, heading back down to his office without another word.

Vi breathed out a sigh of relief. Maybe he didn't know. Vi then grabbed her old red jacked and jumped out the window onto the next rooftop. She needed to get out of there for just a little while.

After managing to calm down and convince Silco that she was alright (or undamaged for all he cared), Vi just wanted something comforting. She could go out looking for trouble, but she knew she was too keyed up for a fight and would likely hurt someone, so to Jerico's it was. It might have only been a day since the last time she was there, but Vi just needed to be somewhere that wasn't Silco's headquarters and it was one of the few places Vi was welcome. Maybe she would have a drink, she didn't care if Silco found out anymore.

Vi sat down at the stool on front of Jerico's, some other patrons moving away from "Silco's daughter". What a joke. Vi went to ask for food when Jerico slid her a napkin. It was his preferred method of delivering messages when people asked for information or when people needed to get messages to allies discreetly. But Vi hadn't asked for anything, nor did she have allies, so what was the note? Jerico didn't seem like the type to deliver death threats or anything, he had never given her one before.

Vi opened the note. "I don't know if this will get to you in time, but if it does, meet me on the high-rise building where we met at 9 PM on the day after progress day. I have a feeling we can help each other. -Cupcake." What did that mean? Why was Caitlin asking to meet her? Did she find out about Powder? Vi checked her watch, it was 8:23, she still had time to get there if she ran.

With a quick thanks to Jerico, Vi took off, taking to the rooftops as to not be slowed down by the people clogging the undercity streets. Vi didn't even know why she was going to see Caitlin or what the enforcer wanted. It was, quite possibly, a trap, but at this point Vi was okay with that. She was just so tired.

Vi could see the outline of Caitlin's figure in the distance, standing alongside another figure Vi couldn't make out. She best be cautious, sneak around the side of the building and hang from one of the top windows to ease drop on their conversation.

"Why won't you just tell me who we are meeting? Who is this mystery informant?" that was Ekko's voice. Vi knew she had sent Cailin to Ekko but she didn't expect the enforcer to try to reunite the two of them, Ekko hated her, and for good reason.

"They wanted to remain anonyms. The messaging system I used isn't guaranteed, but I'm sure that they got the note and are coming." Damn, Caitlin had a lot of faith in her, plus she barely got the note in time. She was going to have to give Caitlin heck for that. But until then, does she come out and face her childhood friend/ current enemy? "I think she needs help, and I don't want to go through with this until she has a chance to get it." Wow, cupcake sounded determined. She was really willing to reveal something important to Vi, just on the off chance that she wouldn't betray them? Guess that settled it. Vi took a deep breath and pulled herself up onto the roof to revel herself to the two standing there.

"I'm touched, Cupcake." Were the only words out of Vi's mouth before a fist collided with it. The force behind the strike wasn't all that much, but Vi still let herself fall to the ground, if only to placate Ekko.

"Caitlin, Run! I'll hold her off and-" Ekko barked out at Caitlin, not that Vi could blame him for expecting the worst. It's what she would have done after all.

"Ekko, No! that's her, that's my informant, the one who sent me to you!" Caitlin grabbed a hold of Ekko's arm to keep him from striking again, much to the confusion of the younger boy.

"What the hell?! Silco's weapon!" ouch, that hurt. Ekko wouldn't even call her by her name. "Have you been working for him?!" Ekko turned on Caitlin, prepared to defend himself when he Found Vi standing solidly in between them. He hadn't even seen her move.

"Back off." Vi barely recognized her own voice, if one would call it that. The words sounded more like she had growled them out instead of speaking, the promise of harm if he didn't comply ringing through louder than any scream.

Ekko's eyes widened. He had never heard Vi sound like that except for when she was defending Powder. She sounded like her old self, one Ekko hadn't seen in years. He immediately raised his hands and backed away, leaving Vi to check Caitlin over. He had no idea what was going on.

Vi checked Caitlin over quickly, she didn't mean to get in between the two, she just… found herself there. When she was sure Caitlin wasn't injured, Vi found her hand resting on either side of the woman's face, holding it with a gentleness Vi didn't know she possessed anymore.

Shaking her head, Vi dropped her hands and turned back to Ekko, ready to face his rage. "Hey, little man."

This seemed to shake Ekko out of his stupor, the enraged look returning to his face. "No! you don't get to call me that! Not after you betrayed all of us to go work for Silco!" okay that was fair, but it still hurt to hear. "How could you do that Vi?! He killed your family! He killed Powder!"

Smoke and fire flashed in front of Vi's eyes, she thought she heard Caitlin Gasp next to her, but the only thing she could see were the fires of that night, the dead bodies, the blood, Powder crying, the brutal training, the torture, the starvation, the bugs in her suit.

Vi felt her jaw clench as she sat down on the nearby ledge of the roof. "He didn't." Vi had never told Ekko that Powder was alive, and he hadn't seen her since that night, so it makes sense that he thought she was dead.

"He did Vi! I saw it myself! Vander, Mylo, Clogger, Powder" Vi flinched with each name. "He killed all of them!" Ekko crossed his arms and stepped away from Vi, apparently not knowing what else to say to her.

"… not all of them." Vi could barely force the words out. She knew Silco had been listening through the bugs in her suit, but it was still hard to shake the paranoia that Silco could see and hear everything.

Ekko's jaw fell. "What do you mean?!" Vi didn't respond. "Vi, who survived?!"

"Powder, he… " Vi couldn't force the words passed her lips. She couldn't put into words the terrible fate Silco had cursed her only sister too, the one she used to try so hard to free her from. Before she just gave up.

Ekko too sat down on the ledge. "Powder is alive?" Vi just nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?!" Vi flinched.

"I couldn't… he knew everything." The excuse sounded so weak to Vi, she had only encountered Ekko after she had given up trying to escape Silco. She expected him to hate her for being weak, even strike her for being a terrible sister, but the arms that wrapped around her were done so with love and comfort.

"I'm sorry." The words took Vi by surprise and she had no idea what to do with them. Ekko was sorry? Sorry for what? Vi was the one who screwed everything up. "I didn't know she was…" Ekko trailed off, apparently not knowing what to say.

"You couldn't have. I made sure of that." A bitter chuckle left Vi's lips as she realized that she was the one who hid her sister so well and made sure no one could rescue her. She dug her sister's own grave.

"What is…" Both Vi and Ekko forgot Caitlin was there until she spoke. Vi inwardly cringed, this was not how she wanted to bring up the issue and now Caitlin probably thought she was some heartless monster who joined up with the man who killed her family. And to be fair, she was. She deserved whatever reaction Caitlin gave.

"I guess you deserve some honesty, Cupcake." Vi sighed, she was not looking forward to this conversation. "It started four years ago when we…" Vi chanced a glance at Ekko only to see him watching her with a look of guilt and grief on his face. "When I thought it was a good idea to pull a job on some rich Piltie. It didn't turn out well, the place got blown up and we almost got caught-"

"That was you?!" Vi cringed at the shout. "I was just outside that apartment when it exploded. It almost killed me." Vi didn't know she could feel even worse about her past actions. She felt as though she had swallowed a beehive as well as a metric ton of acid to go with it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know… that everything could go so wrong." Vi could hear the wheezing in her voice, feel the lump in her throat, and hear the ringing in her ears. It was all starting to seem like too much. "I just wanted things to get better… for Powder to be better off… to not go to bed hungry anymore." They all seemed like such petty wants now, but they had meant everything to Vi back them.

Vi felt her cheeks get wet and she knew she was crying. What a joke. She hadn't cried since her family died and now, she was going to cry in front of an enemy and a stranger. If Silco ever saw her like this… well Vi would take a thousand beatings from Sevika than find out what Silco would do.

Maybe she should just go back. Who was Vi kidding? She couldn't do this. It was probably best that Ekko thought Powder was dead and now that Caitlin knew what Vi was, she would finally leave the undercity like she was supposed to in the beginning. Then she could go back to doing what she does best; hurting people. It was a fate someone like her deserved.

But it wasn't what Powder deserved. And Caitlin might be her last shot at getting her out before her sister's mind couldn't recover. Before Vi's mind couldn't recover.

Vi buried her head in her hands, relishing at the feeling of her nails digging into her scalp. She needed to do this… she just didn't know how.

Caitlin's heart broke watching Vi crumble in front of her. Judging by her age, she would have to have been a young teenager at the time of the robbery. But of course, that didn't seem to stop Caitlin from piling onto the woman's guilt and telling her how she was in the area when the explosion went off. And with how unstable the hex tech crystals were, it's not surprising that Vi and her friends accidentally set one off.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know… that everything could go so wrong." Vi didn't sound quite right. "I just wanted things to get better… for Powder to be better off… to not go to bed hungry anymore."

She… was just trying to help her family? Caitlin had blamed a gang for so long, cursed some unknown hoodlum that defiled Jace's home and risked their lives for a quick pay-off. It had never crossed her mind that it could be a family, just desperate to make their situation a little bit better. Vi clutched her head in her hands, dragging her nails along the skin hard enough to draw blood. The fighter's breathing started to pick up as well, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

She was starting to panic.

If Vi panicked, she was going to bolt. Caitlin couldn't let that happen. She needed Vi's help for her plan against Silco to work! She needed Vi!

Caitlin dropped to her knees in front of Vi, taking the fighter's hands in her own, and dragging them away from her head. "Hey look at me." Vi didn't move. "Vi, I need you to look at me." Caitlin cupped Vi's cheek, letting her thumb trace her tattoo again.

The two stayed like this for several minutes until Vi's breathing evened out and Caitlin realized something. "It says Vi."

"Hmm?" Vi finally opened her eyes to look at Caitlin.

"Your tattoo. It says Vi." She said again.

"Ya. Umm… it was the only thing I got to keep after…" Vi looked to Ekko. "You know."

"Know what, Vi?" Caitlin hoped Vi would continue the story after she had interrupted her the first time.

"Oh, ya. Well, umm…"Vi paused to gather her thoughts. "After the… apartment exploded, enforcers were hot on our tails. They were pretty determined to find out who robbed your friend." Another bitter chuckle. "They were going to arrest everyone, including Powder and I-I couldn't let that happen. I turned myself in, but Vander found me first. He was like my adopted dad." She added that part looking directly at Caitlin before resuming a thousand-yard stair.

"He tried to take the fall for me, and the enforcers were going to let him, but Silco found out somehow. He came and took Vander. And he killed sheriff Grayson to do it." Caitlin felt herself gasp, but it went unnoticed. "Silco took him and… tortured him. You can't even imagine the condition we found him in. he must have had over a dozen broken bones… his face was half caved in. but he was still ready to fight."

Vi took another breath and Caitlin didn't hesitate to keep rubbing soothing circles into her arm where she was gripping Vi. It seemed to help, but maybe that was just Caitlin's wishful thinking. "It was a set up. Silco was trying to lure us out, or more accurately, me." Ekko's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't say anything. "Powder followed us, I told her to stay home, and she tried to give us an escape opening with a monkey bomb, using the stones she found in that damn apartment." Caitlin had a sinking feeling about where the story was going. "It was too powerful… the rubble fell… buried Mylo and Clogger… Vander tried to fight but died getting me out." Vi was openly crying and shaking again, Caitlin was starting to get worried about the other woman. She pulled Vi into a hug, but the street brawler seemed to barely notice. "I…I called her a jinx. I called my baby sister a Jinx. And then Silco found her and he just… I couldn't let him hurt her Ekko." Vi seemed to come back to reality enough to acknowledge them. "I would do ANYTHING to keep her safe and I just couldn't let him hurt her. I just couldn't…" Vi trailed off, silent sobs racking her body and she finally broke down and Caitlin struggled to contain her rage.

That man imprisoned TWO young girls, forcing one to fight and the other into complete isolation to control the first one. She was going to bring this guy in if it was the last thing she did.

"Don't worry Vi. We have a plan, and we are going to help you save Powder." Ekko sounded so confident that even Caitlin believed him, she just hoped Vi would too.

"What do I have to do?"

Caitlin smiled. With Vi, she had the perfect plan.

Ekko left soon after they had solidified the plan to get the necessary materials as well as fill in some other firelights on the plan so they could help. This left Vi and Caitlin alone on the roof in an awkward silence.

"So, your sister?" Caitlin had to ask in an attempt to break the ice, But Vi kept her thousand yard stair.

"Uh, ya. I was ummm… I was sorta going to ask you for help with that." The brawler confessed, scratching the back of her head in discomfort. The realization that Vi was intending to trust her with her most kept secret and in such a dangerous way had Caitlin torn between shaking Vi and telling her how stupid that was and hugging her. She chose he later.

"I would be absolutely happy to help." And Caitlin meant it. "But I need to know, why didn't you reach out sooner? Why not ask Ekko for help?" the questions obviously rattled vi, But Caitlin didn't take them back. She needed to know.

"I did try to escape. For two years I tried. Silco just always knew everything, was always able to stop me before I could do anything." It clearly wasn't something Vi wanted to talk about, but she forced herself on anyway, much to Caitlin's delight in having the fighter's trust. "Then of course came punishments with getting caught, I was forced to take them both so he wouldn't go after Powder. He told me he had eyes and ears everywhere, turns out he just had ears on me." Vi laughed bitterly, as though a terrible joke had been played on her, and Caitlin had a suspicion on had been.

"What do you mean?"

"He bugged me. Gave me a suit for missions, I used to wear it all the time even. It had listening devices sown in throughout it, disguised in the armor." Caitlin felt as though she might throw up.

"He… bugged you?" that had to be a massive violation, she had no idea how Vi felt about it, the only comparison she had was her mother attempting to read her journal when she was a child. The only thing her mother had learned was that she swiped a piece of candy while no one was looking but it still wasn't fun to learn that her mother invaded her privacy. But that seemed so minuscule to Silco bugging Vi's clothing to listen to everything she did and eavesdrop on every conversation she had.

"Ya, guess I have Ekko to thank for finally learning that. One of his firelights tore my uniform during the fight on the airship, I was patching it up when I found the first bug." The Airship?

"Wait, Vi, were you on that airship that exploded yesterday?" Vi cringed a little, but didn't back down.

"Sadly yes. That airship was hauling one of Silco's biggest shipments of shimmer ever, the explosion was a precaution to erase any evidence if it didn't make it to the customer in time." Caitlin could still she Vi's eyes continuously scan the area, probably still paranoid that Silco was listening.

"Who was the customer?" knowing that could help Caitlin find out who might be backing Silco topside and exposing them would help keep Silco from pulling something to get away with his crimes.

"I don't know, I just guard the drugs." Oh well, such things could be delt with later. Caitlin sighed, turning to look out over the undercity. From such a great height, Caitlin could see why Vi preferred to travel by rooftop. the undercity was rather pretty with all its neon signs shining in the night sky. Caitlin made herself content to admire the view for a few moments before she spoke again.

"We are going to get her out. You know that right?" at least Caitlin hoped they would. It would be a bitch to explain her plan to the council if they failed.

"I hope so. It might be her last chance." Caitlin's head whipped around to face Vi, her question clearly showing on her face as Vi elaborated. "she's been in isolation since Silco took her. Been alone nearly everyday for years. The guards tell me her mind's been deteriorating; talking to people that aren't there, having random panic attacks, not remembering who she is or her situation more and more often. I'm worried that if we don't pull this off, there won't be anything left of my sister by the time we are ready to try again."

Caitlin noticed how Vi said 'Silco took her' and not 'Silco took us'. She almost didn't think of herself as a victim in the situation. However worried she was about Vi disregarding her own trauma, she didn't say anything in favor of comforting her companion. "We'll save her Vi, and we'll get her the best mental health treatment in all of Piltover afterwards."

Vi hummed noncommittally. In the light of the undercity, Caitlin thought she looked so much younger than she sounded.

Suddenly, a thought struck Caitlin. She might not see Vi again after the attack of Silco's facility. Just the thought of that had her insides eating away at themselves. She didn't want this to be the last time she saw Vi, she to keep this woman in her life.

"Maybe, after this… we could get to know each other better." Caitlin cringed at how awkward she sounded, But Vi just laughed.

"You better be careful, cupcake. If I didn't know better, I'd think you are asking me out." Vi was still looking out over the undercity.

"What if I am?" better to be bold than cowardly.

Vi's eyes widened. "Wait, no." Caitlin's heart dropped. "People run from me, they don't try to date me. I'm unlovable." Vi fixed her eyes on the ground, trying desperately to not look Caitlin in the eye.

Caitlin's heart softened. "Well, I disagree." She laid her palm on Vi's cheek again, rejoicing in the way vi continued to lean into the touch. "You don't have to decide now. Such things can wait until you are free from Silco." Caitlin was willing to wait. She hopped that Vi would stick around, but she wouldn't force her to stick around if she decided not to.

She was about to leave when Caitlin decided to be bold. She used the palm on Vi's cheek to pull her down and plant a kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight Vi. I'll see you tomorrow." Caitlin still had a long night ahead of her, she needed to get the hextech crystals and call out of work. But it would be a lie to say she wasn't excited to take down Silco.

In all, Caitlin was excited for what the next day would bring.

Vi watched Caitlin leave, making her way back to the topside. She could still feel the phantom sensation of the enforcer's lips on her cheek. Then and there, Vi decided that she would face any shimmer addict a dozen times over if she could get Caitlin to do that again.

Vi had to go back early for her usual morning training. It was even more brutal then ever, but Vi just kept telling herself that this one was the last, that she would never have to feel the way her bones cracked under the force of Sevika's blows. She just needed to keep her cool until it was over.

"You're done for today. Go see Silco." Same as always. Then it was time to start Caitlin's plan, Vi was supposed to open a window (disarming the alarm) so she, Ekko, and the other firelights could infiltrate the building. Vi was happy to see they did so with incredible efficiency and only minimal glares shot in her direction. Then came the trip to Powder.

Ekko's firelights broke away from them almost immediately, having another part of the plan to enact, leaving Vi, Caitlin, and Ekko to get Powder. Once they reached the prison cells, Vi motioned for the other two to stay out of sight and she approached the guards alone.

"Vi? What are you doing here?" one of the guards called out upon seeing her, knowing her well enough to not call her Violet.

"What does it look like? I'm here to see my sister." A couple of shadows moved behind the guards but Vi kept her eyes fixed on the two men in front of her. She didn't want to alert them.

"Umm, sorry Vi, we didn't get orders from Silco, so we can't let you in-"

"I'm just trying to see my sister, damn it!" Vi did her best to sound irritated. It helped that she was still angry from her training.

"We didn't get any notification. You know you can't go in without Silco's permission." The guy sounded genuinely sorry, but Vi didn't back down.

"Do you really want me to bother Silco just because you two couldn't receive a message?" Vi was really hoping the two didn't try to call him or the plan would be in shambles before it even began.

The two guards exchanged a look. "ummm, I don't know Vi. You know how the boss is-" the guard was cut off as a hand wrapped around his mouth as well as an arm wrapping around his throat, his friend in similar conditions. They made almost no sound at Caitlin and Ekko knocked them out, leaning them against the wall as though they were just resting. Any guard walking though would probably buy that they fell asleep on the job. It had happened before.

"Keys." Ekko threw her a set of keys that Vi then used to unlock Powder's cell, entering slowly in hopes not to spook her baby sister.

"Vi!" a blue blur attached herself to Vi's waist.

"Hey Pow-pow." Vi almost wished she could stay in her sister's embrace for longer, but they were on a time clock. "Ok, Powder," Vi put her hand on her sister's shoulders and looked her in the eye. She needed to make sure she paid attention. "We are going to get you out of here, Alright?" the shift in demeanor was obvious as Powder's smile dropped from her face and she groaned, flopping onto her mattress.

"Of course, you aren't real. Vi never gets to visit so soon." Vi's heart broke, her sister couldn't even tell if she was real.

"Powder, listen, It's really me. I found some friends and we are going to get you out of here-" Vi tried to reason with her, inching her way over to Powder in hopes that more physical contact might convince her that she is real.

"No, it's not! Vi gave up trying to escape a long time ago. She can't even get the courage to leave by herself." Vi was at a loss for what to do, she had never had this happen before. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Let me try." Ekko kneeled down next to Vi and took of his mask to the Powder could see him. "Hey Powder."

"Ekko? Hmm, you're new. Are you dead too?" she still thought she was hallucinating, and they were running out of time, soon Silco would wonder why Vi was late for their daily meeting. Vi looked desperately at Caitlin, silently asking her for help.

"Pardon me, Powder was it?" Caitlin sounded as proper as ever, probably making sure Powder could tell she was from topside.

Powder's eyes narrowed. "I don't know you."

"Exactly, why would you hallucinate someone you don't know?" Powder seemed to ponder that. "I'm a… friend of your sister's and she is correct. We are here to get you out of here, but we need you help to do it."

Powder evaluated Caitlin, maybe deciding if she was real or if she was telling the truth. "What would I need to do." The three all let out a collective sigh of relief. Powder's help was important.

Vi motioned for Ekko to pull out the sling carrying case he had, opening it up to show three hextech crystals, as Caitlin had called them. "I need you to make a bomb."

Caitlin watched Vi run toward Silco's office with a heavy heart. It was clear that she was used to the man controlling every part of her life, so how would the confrontation with him go?

"You can gaze longingly after your girlfriend later, let's get going." Caitlin sputtered at Ekko's taunt but chased after him anyway.

"I was not… she's not… was I that obvious?" Ekko laughed at her question.

"Since the rooftop meeting, ya." Great, now she was going to think about that for the rest of the mission.

"What do you mean Vi's… girlfriend?" Caitlin had no idea how to even approach the subject of her and Vi's complicated relationship, especially to her kid sister.

"Umm, Vi will explain it to you later." No, she was not throwing Vi under the bus, she just didn't want to explain to the demolition expert that she might have a crush on her sister.

The three finally arrived at their chosen warehouse where all the other firelights snuck off to. To their credit, the firelights had already managed to ether run off or take down everyone in the facility and get them out safely. Ekko then gave Powder the hextech crystals as well as a bag full of building materials and they watched as she worked the powerful stones into three explosive devices.

"Of course, it's going to work. It worked the last time didn't it?" Powder spoke to an empty space to her left.

"We… didn't say anything." Powder cringed when Caitlin spoke.

"Sorry, its just Mylo. He's never had much faith in me or my bombs." Mylo? Wasn't that one of the people Ekko listed in Vi's family? Before Caitlin could ask, Powder cut her off.

"Done! Put one on that support beam, one in the middle of that wall, and one in front of the door for the most damage. This is going to be an epic boom!" Caitlin pulled Powder out of the building and into one of the tunnels Ekko said would protect them from the explosion, soon followed by the firelights who had set up the bombs to Powder's specifications. The girl seemed rather excited considering they were about to blow a building sky high and potentially kill themselves.

Caitlin took a deep breath and hit the detonation button.

Meetings with Silco were never fun, but this one was especially nerve racking. Knowing a massive explosion would likely go off in the next few minutes also didn't help matters. Vi walked up to the big doors, guards present like always, and steeled herself before pushing into the office.

"Ah, Violet, there you are. I was beginning to wonder where you went off to." Vi swallowed her panic. He didn't know, he couldn't know.

"Sevika accidentally dislocated my shoulder again. I went to pop it back in." It wasn't too uncommon for Vi to patch herself up after training, especially after the time Silco punished her for tracking blood into his office.

"Hmm, I see. You seemed rather shaken up yesterday, what was that about?" Vi tried not to let her confusion show on her face. Silco never asked her things like that. Could he know? No, it wasn't possible, she wasn't wearing the suit, he couldn't have heard. She needed to come up with an excuse fast.

"I-it was the explosion. It just remined me of that night and…" Vi took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair, not having to put much effort in to looking rattled. "I guess I wasn't as over it as I thought."

Silco hummed as he examined her. Vi knew he did this every time they had a meeting, but for some reason it was even more unnerving this time. "That's good. For a moment I was worried it was about the listening devices in your suit." Vi had to clench her jaw to keep it from falling to the floor. She stood as straight as possible, refusing to move or react. Vi had no idea what Silco was doing.

"You forget yourself Violet. You. Are. My. Daughter." Silco continued "I know you, and I know how you react to things. You've planned some kind of escape attempt, am I right?" Vi stayed silent. "I thought so. No doubt you have already broken out your sister, but what I really wish to know is; what are you going to do now."

Vi was saved from answering as an explosion sounded off close by, shaking the very ground Vi and Silco stood on. Vi couldn't help but smile a little bit, her sister was still a genius.

"So that's it." Vi's attention was drawn back to Silco. "Do you really think you can win this, Violet? You had been doing so well recently, so stop this and just accept your place as my legacy. Maybe I'll even give your sister better accommodations." Vi could feel the fear creeping up her spine, compelling her take Silco's deal, but her sister's face flashed in her mind, so confused as to what was real or what was just in her mind. She saw Ekko, so angry to have to fight her and so sad to learn what really happened. And finally, she saw Caitlin, someone she barely knew, but really hoped she could know.

Vi gathered her wits and looked Silco dead in his mangled face. "No chance in hell."

"Very well." Silco snapped and Sevika walked out from behind the door. Vi hadn't noticed her. Stupid. She took up her fighting stance.

"You haven't beat me in 4 years kid, you aren't going to beat me now." Sevika cracked the knuckles on her nonmetal hand.

"Maybe I never had a reason to win before." She needed to win this. For powder. For herself.

Sevika swung first with her metal arm, barely missing Vi's head as she ducked. Vi struck the spot where Sevika's arm connected to the rest of her body with an open palm, relishing in the older woman's cry of pain. The doctor always said the socket was the weakest point.

With her arm out of commission, it left Sevika's face unguarded. Something Vi took full advantage of. Vi got two good hits in before the older woman wrapped up her arms, letting her metal arm click into place, completely securing her arms. Vi's eyes widened in terror at Sevika's smile. "I got an upgrade."

Vi tried to pull away, but remained stuck in Sevika's grasp. Vi took a knee to the stomach, a headbutt to the nose, and a dozen punches all along her side. Her vision was starting to swim. Her body numbing against the blows the way they always did during punishment. Vi barely had time to react as Sevika released her arms in favor of a chock hold.

"You will never get away from Silco." Vi's vision was darkening around the edges. "Maybe if you beg for it now, he'll forgive you." Vi could feel her knees buckling and her lungs burning. She clawed at the arm to no avail. "Too bad you'll never get the chance." Sevika was going to kill her. Vi's struggles increased as her panic took over, but Sevika's arm just dug in deeper to her throat. Shouldn't Silco stop her?

Vi's thoughts ground to a halt as a gunshot rang out through the air. The pressure around her throat dropping off suddenly and Vi dropped to her knees, desperately trying to get air in her lungs.

She had just managed to get her chest to stop burning when Vi found a hand twisted into her shirt, hauling her to her feet. "-olet! Violet!" her ears were ringing. "Stand up! you are my daughter, and I will not tolerate this weakness. You will listen to me and kill that girl." Silco shoved her away toward the door. Vi looked up to see Caitlin, holding a still smoking gun, standing a few feet away.

"Vi!" Caitlin rushed to Vi's side. Judging by the blood clouding one of her eyes, she probably looked pretty bad.

"You're an ok shot, Cupcake." Vi laughed, her head starting to feel fuzzy.

Caitlin huffed in response. "I'm an excellent shot."

"All guards to my office! Now!" Silco yelled into his radio. Vi held her breath for a few moments, but no one came.

"Your guards have all fled. The firelights chased them away." Ekko spoke proudly from his place in the door beside Powder.

Silco paused, examining his surroundings. "Fine. If you want something done right you've gotta do it yourself." Vi clocked the moment Silco reached for the gun he kept at the small of his back. She had never known him to go anywhere without it, Silco even saved her a couple times with that gun (though she paid for it later in punishment).

Vi never liked guns. They were load, drew too much attention. They felt too small in her hands, too delicate. The recoil hurt both her ears and her shoulders. But just because Vi hated guns, didn't mean she didn't know how to use one. For in that moment, Vi found herself crouched by Sevika, the older woman's gun in her hands, sights lined up pointing directly at Silco. She didn't hesitate to pull the trigger.

Silco dropped before he could even line up the shot. Vi knew he wore Kevlar under his suit due to his well earned paranoia, so he would live, unfortunately.

The numbness crept full force into Vi's brain, causing her to drop the gun and collapse, thankfully into Caitlin's arms. "You saved me cupcake." Caitlin laughed as she held Vi.

"I think you just paid me back for that." Vi could listen to Caitlin laugh forever. She remembered the felling of those same lips on her cheek. She wondered what they would feel like on her own…

Vi's brain caught up to her actions second after she had connected her and Caitlin's lips. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Vi pulled back and started rapidly apologizing. "I didn't mean to do that… well I wanted to, but I didn't mean to!"

"Vi"

"And I didn't even ask permission, oh god I'm so sorry."

"Vi"

"I know we agreed to wait until after this whole thing was over, but probably not seconds after it being over-"

"VI!" Vi paused in her explanation, looking at Caitlin in trepidation, waiting for the inevitable rejection. "Shut up."

With that Caitlin wrapped her hand around the back of Vi's head, pulling her back into a kiss. The two heard a little "eep" and smiled into their kiss as they noticed Ekko cover Powder's eyes. The explanation of this was a problem best solved later, for that moment, Vi and Caitlin were content to enjoy a little well earned peace and safety.

After Silco was arrested, Caitlin took the two sisters back to stay with her topside, which was awkward to say the least. Ekko had offered a place for them among the firelights but relented after admitting that a few firelights would probably be out for revenge after everything Vi did under Silco's command.

Upon arriving at Caitlin's house, Vi walked in to find a gun jammed in her face. It took nearly 30 minutes for Caitlin to calm her parents down enough to explain what was going on and another 30 minutes for her to convince Vi that her parents were safe. In all, Vi was ready to put everything that happened behind her and try to move forward.

Unfortunately, that is not what happened.

Apparently Silco had a lawyer topside handle his will and there was a clause in it for if he ever got arrested. This lawyer called Vi (who brought Caitlin) in for a meeting to discuss Silco's will and assets. He explained that Silco arranged for 100% his assets to go to his daughter should he be killed or arrested. Upon telling the lawyer that she was not, in fact, Silco's daughter, he produced a legal adoption certificate that showed Silco had adopted her almost three years beforehand.

Vi asked if there was any chance someone else could take all of Silco's things, but he told her the will was airtight, meaning everything was hers weather she wanted it or not. This news had Vi spiraling, causing her to destroy nearly three punching bags before regaining her composure. Caitlin suggested that she let her go through Silco's belongings to find proof of guilt for him, Marcus, and everyone else, to which Vi agreed.

The trial was open and shut. Silco didn't even try to fight his sentencing, he just smiled at Vi, seemingly trying to express a twisted version of a father's pride in her. Marcus however fought and screamed about his sentanceing, claiming he had only been trying to protect everyone from Silco. An excuse no one bought. They were both sentenced to spend the rest of their natural lives in Stillwater prison.

After Silco was put away, Caitlin and Vi had a long talk about what to do with his assets. A talk that often-included Mr. Kammerman. The old doctor told Vi of all the good shimmer could do in the medical field if properly tested and maintained.

So, over the next few weeks, all of Silco's old shimmer factories were switched from mass-production to medical research. Something Signed was more that happy about and took to the research with much enthusiasm. Soon enough, the medical shimmer variations were producing 10 times more profit than the street drug version ever had. Eventually, Vi settled into her roll as Silco's successor and became the ruthless gang leader with power over the entire undercity. Everyone in the undercity came to respect her, often describing her as "merciless but kind."

With all that money, Vi created serval rehab programs and facilities for recovering shimmer addicts as well as a state-of-the-art mental health facility, who accepted Powder as its first patient and eventually as its director, where her manic enthusiasm and knowledge of all things shimmer and mental health were respected by every person who walked through the front doors.

Caitlin was promoted to sheriff after Marcus was imprisoned and spent her days fixing his mistakes, freeing people he had wrongly imprisoned, and cleaning the force or any dirty enforcers. However, she still found time for her girlfriend, weather it was going on dates or chasing down people trying to restart the shimmer drug variant, Caitlin was always at her side whenever she could.

It was a well-known secret that the new sheriff was in a relationship with the new gang leader of the undercity. Some people were opposed, but decided it at least kept the peace between the two areas and left well enough alone. Others were known to describe it as "the love story of the century", something that never failed to make Vi a stuttering mess, much to Caitlin's amusement.

Under Vi's rule, the people of the undercity found more peace than they ever had under Silco or Vander, and they began to make amends with the people topside. They brought more issues before the council (which sometimes faced pressure to help from both the leader of all undercity gangs as well as their own Sheriff) and slowly started to improve things on both sides of the river. Together the undercity gang lord and the Piltover sheriff led the two parts of the city to a sense of peace, one they solidified upon their marriage, effectively becoming the most unlikely and bazar couple the city had ever seen, but also the one who went down in history as the saviors of Piltover.

Whenever anyone asked the couple why they did so much to save the other's side of the city, the two would share a knowing look and say; "because there was no other choice."