(Katarina - PoV)
There were plans. A big official ceremony, massive reception, huge welcoming committee, the works. All gone to shit, because of one psychotic bitch. We can technically still do the ceremonies, and probably still will, but I admit I wanted to give Garen a good impression of the city, a huge proper welcome. Instead, his first memories of Noxus are going to be carrying his sister's blood-soaked body through darkened corridors. Not ideal.
But ultimately irrelevant I suppose. The truly important part now is the doctor we are heading to meet. I wouldn't hold out much hope, given the girl's state, but the man was recommended by Swain. If it can be done, he will manage it.
Finally locating the right room, we enter, finding an older man with black but greying hair in a stereotypical white lab coat. The thick black gloves and faintly glowing glasses attract more attention, along with the starburst scar on his temple.
He turns to us, "Ah, good, yes yes, place her on the table here." Garen doesn't hesitate to follow his instructions.
"I am Dr. Kane, I work on various projects for Lord Swain, he asked me to assist. I will have to check to be certain but from what I have heard already I have a rather strong suspicion as to the problem if you are interested?" He speaks while hooking the girl up to various bits of equipment. I can't pretend to have any idea what this stuff is, other than that it looks to be imported from Zaun or Piltover.
"Yes, please!" Garen requests desperately.
"Of course, of course. See, most of Demacia's anti-magic is based on its Petricite. But said material is large, heavy, and quite obvious. More subtle methods have long been desired, ones not reliant on other mages. Obviously, more permanent methods have long been desired as well. At some point, the two groups got together and sought outside expertise in a rather large project culminating in the Null Potion."
I have never heard of this, and do not like that fact.
"It mostly failed. Oh, it would work somewhat but, the effects were quite temporary and nowhere near worth the costs. Then someone had the brilliant idea to pair the potion with runework, and the Mark I Nullification Process was born."
"Hrm"
He stops for a moment, examining the readouts on a machine, and swapping out a handful of vials.
"She really is in poor condition. She is quite lucky to have such generous backers, this is going to be rather expensive."
I can tell Garen doesn't know how to process that statement. Yes, some lives are not worth the cost to save little hero. Resources are not infinite. That is going to be an interesting lesson to teach him.
"Also, I can indeed confirm she was subject to the Process. See these runes on her wrists? Used to keep the potion circulating in her bloodstream, and to prevent it from degrading, or being flushed out of the body through any of the usual methods. Technically they would be more efficient on the heart, but on the wrists they can be monitored by the Mageseekers more easily."
He moves to one of the complex machines, one with several red-filled tubes hooked up to it.
"And over here, yes. The potion itself is a number of complex chemicals, with small particles of Petricite suspended in it. This machine is filtering it from her blood, the process seems to be going well."
He is sucking all of her blood through that machine? That...makes me surprisingly uncomfortable. I rather hope to never have to use such a machine. Reminds me of leeches. Disgusting creatures.
"Right, right, back to the story. So, the Process seemed a massive success at first. One had to be careful with dosages certainly, but with the ability to monitor a subject through the runes, it seemed perfect. A way to contain mages long term, to functionally make them into mundane members of society. The problems started when the process was tried on more powerful mages. Aside from lacking the full nullification abilities of actual Petricite shackles, there was also the blatant mental degradation."
I, for one, would consider that to be a major fucking side effect, yes.
"The speed and severity were inconsistent, but the occurrence was near-universal. Virtually every mage above a certain threshold would quickly show signs of violent mental instability if not perfectly managed. Further review of even the original subjects was inconclusive, but showed a high likelihood that long-term use could result in degradation."
"The reports were compiled, and the results presented. There was a small chance that further development to attempt to mitigate the side effects would be ordered, but as expected the project was closed. What was not expected, was that instead of production of the potion being shut down, it was increased. Significantly increased."
I'm sorry what? They are intentionally driving their mages insane? What kind of imbecile considers that a good idea? Garen looks morally outraged, while I am trying to get over the sheer stupidity.
"Indeed, certain factions in Demacia appeared quite pleased with the results. While I can't pretend to have true insight into matters I can only assu-hrm. That can't be right can it?"
Kane stops to fiddle with the filtering machine again.
"I...damn. I suppose that would explain?" He flits from machine to machine, checking charts and readings.
"But who would be that stupid? This can't possibly be a mistake, she's not even...well, of course, it doesn't have to be a mistake if they are...ah. Well, that would make sense then. But then how is she even still...I mean they say she is showing exceptionally fast...but she should have long since...I am missing something..." he rambles to himself.
"If you need answers, you do know her brother is still in the room with us?" I remind him. His type can so easily get lost in their own minds.
He blinks and looks at us, seemingly having forgotten our presence entirely. Typical.
"Right! Yes! So, I believe I have filtered most of the potion from her system. As I said before, the Process requires carefully managed doses. Your sister may be quite strong, but is still a very small girl, so I was expecting a comparable dosage, perhaps a bit above average for her size."
He reaches to the Filter machine and unhooks a near full vial. A fairly large vial.
"This, would be a potentially crippling dose for a man of Garen's size. Indeed, I am uncertain I would ever use this much even in such a case. It is quite literally the maximum I have ever seen authorized."
"I had assumed that whoever was in charge of monitoring your sister's health simply screwed up. It happens more than most would care to admit, especially with complex fields on the edge of science. But this?" He waves the vial at us. "This was attempted murder, without a doubt. Whoever gave her this fully intended for her to go mad and be put down like an animal. They wanted her dead."
Every time I think my opinion can't sink any lower...
And Garen. He is locked in place. Frozen entirely. The rage, ah that delicious rage. It is so rare to see in him. I don't care for berserkers, of course, such a waste, but near all-consuming rage? Honed to an edge, and bound by absolute will? It is what makes Noxus. We don't throw away or stamp out our feelings, we harness them, use them as a weapon. I can't wait to see what he becomes. Thank you for this good doctor.
"What confuses me, is that she has lasted so long."
And suddenly I have a bad feeling. Like the universe is about to pull the rug out from under me again.
"I mean, how long did it take you to free her from the, uh, academy?" Kane asks Garen.
"Just over four days. As fast as I could," he responds with wariness.
"Yes, see, even excluding all the time gallivanting around the countryside between Demacia and here-"
Not the best description doctor.
"That alone should have been far too long. This ridiculous a dose for a girl her size? She should have been foaming at the mouth within two."
Garen goes still again, for an entirely different reason. Gods damnit.
"Within four or five? Especially while stressed out and being undoubtedly abused by mage haters? Her brain should have been leaking out of her ears. By the time you got to the academy, you should have at best found a rabid, blood maddened animal, but I have a hard time imagining anything but a ruined corpse, even if the guards let her be."
Doctor, I take it back. Please shut up.
Garen is...damn. I admit I may be a bit of a sadist, but the look in his eyes now? Anguish. I can't say I care for the taste of it, not in someone I respect.
And the doctor is still talking.
"Many of the other tests I am doing are also coming back distinctly odd. The process is not a full block, so some mana passing through is common, especially with stronger mages, so it is common to see a bit of mana in the subjects system but her system is positively flooded. Tell me, what exactly brought you here so suddenly?"
Given Garen is in no state to answer I fill the doctor in, at least a touch.
"Their group was ambushed by an enemy Champion. The girl blasted her a fair bit before collapsing. With her in such bad condition, we went to the Institute to teleport here.
"I...what? What? There is no possible way! Yes, she has signs of significant damage but...the kind of magic to fight a Champion? And teleportation?! While her body is filled with Petricite particles?
Oh...
"The words chunky salsa spring to mind. I...I have no idea how she is anything but mush, much less alive!"
This cannot be helping Garen's condition either...
"I mean really, while the potion's effects tend towards long-term damage this high of an overdose, combined with massive magical overload, teleportation, and gods knows what else? I...I am drawing a blank here. I haven't seen anything like this, I don't know anyone who could survive this, I mean, this is the sorta shit that you...would...oh."
The doctor turns and stares at Garen, realization seemingly hitting him.
"Oh. Ohh, yes, perhaps. Many siblings...and fighting a Champion. Yes."
"Doctor? Care to share with the class?" It is like corralling children.
"Yes, yes of course. I suppose congratulations are in order. Our dear...Lux was it? Is very much Champion material."
Damn. I mean, that was obvious from her leveling a city, untrained and suppressed, but I was hoping to keep a lid on that until I could talk to Swain.
"I...can't say that is a surprise," Garen admits.
Indeed, he is remarkably oblivious about a number of things but combat is not one of them. Also good that he is speaking again, this conversation cannot be good for him.
"Oh...just me learning it them." Doctor Kane deflates like a kicked puppy.
"And it would be for the best that as few people as possible learn of it, for the moment. I haven't asked The Grand General if he wants it public or not."
The doctor blinks.
"Oh. Yes, that makes sense I suppose. Pity. There are so many papers I could write!" He manages to look both excited and disappointed at the same time.
"My sister," Garen interrupts. "Will she...will she recover?"
Straight to the point.
"Physically she should make a full recovery. With the resources we have here she had good odds regardless but as a Champion? It takes a lot to take one of you guys out and make it stick, there should be no issues." Kane is almost dismissive of the question as he checks a readout.
Good news, if unsurprising. This facility cannot be cheap.
"Now, her mental recovery? No idea." he shrugs.
...Doctor do you want to get stabbed?
"I mean, at least a little bit? Sure. Some of the raw damage to her brain should heal. But I wasn't joking about writing papers on this. This is uncharted territory, unprecedented, has literally never happened before. There are reasons to believe she will get better...and reasons not to. And far more factors that I simply don't know what they will do."
Ugh, and this guy is very likely the world's expert. Taking people apart is so much easier than putting them back together.
"Now, I have made sure she shouldn't get worse. But in terms of recovery?" Kane stops, the doctor looking, really looking at Garen for the first time, and sighs.
"I have hopes for at least a mild to moderate recovery. But, uh, Garen? Yes, Garen. Whoever she was before all of this? That girl is gone. She will not be back. Do not expect it. And I would strongly advise against attempting to push her into becoming that person again. It will not work. I see it so very very often and it never works. It never, ever works, no matter how hard you try or what you are willing to sacrifice. Figure out who she is now, and be grateful there is anything left of her at all. Most of the world doesn't get that much."
Doctor Kane goes back to his beeping machines while Garen processes what he was told.
Where did that come from?
(Garen - PoV)
I sit in the hallway outside the lab.
The doctor gave me much to think on. Too much. Before kicking us out. Kat has things to take care of as well. She offered to have me accompany her, but I declined. I will wait right here outside the room until Lux is well. I can't...I can't bear to be anywhere else.
Again. And again. And again. And again. A cavalcade of failures. Every time I resolve to do better I discover another. I find that I have failed her another way, that she has been broken worse than before. So I lied to myself, saying it would all be swept away once we got to Noxus, that they could fix everything, and she would be back to perfect health.
But reality doesn't work like that. All the king's horses and all the king's men indeed...
...
Wet. Tears? I am...crying?
It has been...a long time. Since I cried. Since I lost that much control. Since I was that weak.
...
I can't
stop.
...
*sob*
She's...
She's hurt. Forever.
The tears pour freely down what remains of my clothes, mixing with the dried blood and dirt. Some dripping to the floor to pool beneath me.
They tried to murder her. For nothing. And now she is forever broken. And I didn't stop it.
*sob*
I was too busy pretending to be a hero. Too focused on being a good soldier.
...
Too busy, serving the people that FUCKING DESTROYED HER!
I SCREAM!
Lashing out, I slam through the wall with my fist, the shock-wave expanding outwards and exploding most of the outside wall of the hallway, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the building, exposing it to open air.
I stand there in the dawn's light. Wet, dirty, dressed in rags, breathing heavily and barely in control of myself.
"Use it."
I turn to see Kat in the hallway, watching me.
"The rage. The hate. The guilt. The shame. Don't discard it. Don't let it rule you. Harness it. Turn it into a weapon, as much as your sword." She speaks as she approaches me, swinging her hips wide with every step.
"Wield it," she whispers, touching my chest, before circling me, dragging her fingers across my torso.
"They try to break people into nothing. Stamp them into puppet soldiers that dance to their tune. Show them. Show them what they made with their monstrous actions!" she demands as she returns to my front.
Looking into her eyes, there is only one answer.
"Teach me."