That blasted woman!
Susan Cowl; freelance thief with connections with the minor gang Whetstone
South on Caner Street, Vi is only few feet behind her. If I don't move now, I'll lose sight of both of them.
Approximately 34 seconds
Think
Carner opens to West Morris and Kettle Square. She may head down the alleys of Morris or lose us in the afternoon crowd of the square. There's always the possibility of her having backup
A trap?
Most likely, we've never caught her in the act. She did not look surprised when Vi confronted her.
30 seconds
I scream over the radio for her to distance herself; to let backup to box her in. She won't like the idea; she wants to do this her way. She's going to laugh at my orders.
This is how she is.
"Ha! And let them have all the fun? Not a chance."
As expected
Winds are about 9 km/hr on the rooftop but there'll be little wind between the buildings. Summer day, currents of warm air will create wind on West Morrison but not on Carner Street. Adjust appropriately.
Focus Caitlyn
21 seconds
The thief is fast, she's the one who raided Professor Azuri's workshop. Prototype #35cb; boots designed to assist with every step, propelling the wearer farther. Formally drafted to aid the feeble and soldiers. At this rate, Vi may tire out before the thief even drains half the power supply of the shoes.
I still don't know the full extent what Zaun did to her.
15 seconds
Her steps are getting more assured, she's slower down. Has she become winded? No, something else, she keeps looking behind at Vi. Taunting. Baiting.
She has back up
She doesn't know that I'm on this case with me; she only expects it to be Vi chasing her. It's a low profile case, heist of a subpar mansion, not something that would typically call for the sheriff to become personally involved with.
7 seconds
Right turn onto West Morrison, the buildings are taller, winds blowing east. What does she have planned?
Pitfall, trip line, open sewer…Sniper?
Logical, Streets are narrow, forcing Vi into a pattern of predictable movement. Winds are blowing towards her; disruption in bullet flight will be minimal. Watch her eyes; she will glance to the sniper.
Brown eyes, scar to the left of her nose, looks like from a blunt force. Estimated age of wound; 5-8 years. Her eyes are focused forward, not just yet.
2 seconds
Any farther and the building below me with block my sight of them, it needs to happen soon. Vi's going to get herself hurt. Tunnel vision. I can't let that happen.
1 second
Come on
.4 seconds
Three more steps.
Eyes still fixed forward
Time's up
She looks directly into my scope and winks
A mock salute
Teasing
They disappear behind a building
Fucking cogs
She knew I was watching. She fucking knew.
Variables
How does she know?
Incorrect question. Unimportant
She knows now, I can't change that
What can I do to counteract this?
Better
Options; trust that Vi can handle herself or move positions to get into range. She knew exactly where I would be positioned; she ensured that her backup would not cross my line of sight. She expected Vi to throw caution to the wind and chase her. She planned everything out.
An ear in the operation
Clever, clever girl
Can't stick to the plan now, she knows what they are. I have to move positions.
"Sherriff, you better tell me you have that vase back."
Mayor over the radio, the vase belongs to a close friend of his. He wants it back no matter the cost. A favor for a favor.
The vase is replaceable
Vi is not
Call for air support, wait it out for backup to box them in. Safest plan.
No
Can't call over the radio, she would have it tapped. Something she would never expect…
Blank
Hard to do something out of habit
Have I always been this predictable?
Lower rooftop, 15 meter wide alley way. I am not a strong leaper. Risky move, think of something else.
She wouldn't expect me to do it
It's something Vi would do
Whatever gets you there
"Sometimes, you just gotta think outside the box."
Running start, two foot high ledge, up and over
Simple enough
Gunshots ring from the West, where Vi and the thief disappeared to. What's over there? A backdoor deliver square. Perfect place for an ambush. Two quick shots and one large crack. A pistol and…a rifle?
She could be dead
Registering signs of fear
Hands tight around rifle, seven steps back.
Foot on the ledge, push up and out with the ball of the foot.
Two more pistol shots
Air borne, twist and prepare to roll onto right shoulder down to left hip. Brace for pain, two story difference.
Please don't be dead
Impact
Relatively soft roll, shaky coming back up. To be expected for a person who is unaccustomed to leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
Vision of the courtyard is partial. Vi's upper body is the only thing I can see, other than the building behind her.
The beaten stone ground is covered in water. It's the square to a clothing shop with flats above it; there hasn't been rain, why is the ground wet?
No accident reports, too much standing water for a simple leaking pipe.
Look closer
Vi's face shouldn't be that green
Gunshots
Clothing store, perhaps vats of dye that she hid behind, thief tried to shoot her, shot the vats instead; would explain the splatter of green on her face.
She's talking, not on the radio, to the thief; she doesn't want the thief to know that I am listening in.
"-pistol down and I promise not to beat you up too badly."
As if
The thief is armed, close range, standard limit of five shots per clip. Possible that she has an illegal firearm with a modified magazine. But she has a gun; no doubt it's trained on Vi.
Tense shoulders, gauntlets curled into tight fists. She's no looking at the other's face; her eyes are lower, she's staring at the gun. She's not going to surrender, that's no Vi. She'll charge her, wait for a distraction that she'll cause herself or that may happen to come along.
Focus
My heart thuds
Pause
A pistol and…a rifle
There is a sniper
Crosshairs sweep from window to window, skipping past the ones that I would be able to see from my previous position. The thief is smart; she wouldn't station her backup where I would supposedly be able to see them. She would want to lead Vi so her back is to the sniper; less of a chance for Vi to notice. They've stopped moving, that means the gunner's somewhere.
Pressure builds below my eyes
If I don't find this person soon.
Link update: Partner's powerpack is altering currents. All power being diverted to frontal blastshields. Adjustments 64% complete
She's going to charge soon. With her front shields to the max, she'll survive anything short of 2 tons of hexplosives as long as it is in front of her. But her back shields won't be able to stop a rifle shot. I can't warn her, not with them listening in on the radio; I have to find this sniper.
Please
All the windows are empty. Nothing. I don't understand
There should be a sniper
A bluff?
Link update: Powershift complete. Frontal blastshields running at 120% capacity. All other processes running at 10%
She's wielding those massive gauntlets with little help from her powerpack. Impressive.
She moistens her lips, eyes flickering up; expectant, devious eyes. She speaks.
"I could really go for a cupcake right about now."
Humorous
Her little code for "I need backup."
It's better than the first time she screamed over the radio;
"Cupcake, I'm in deep shit right now, help a girl out!"
Distraction
Vi doesn't flinch when I shoot out one of the higher windows of the building behind her. She charges, her overcharged blastshield warping the air around her. She'll reach her in at most three seconds. The thief will unload one round; if she's wielding a legal firearm, or more if not. We'll get our criminal, no guarantees the vase will be intact.
Unimportant
1
2
3
She presses on, flinching every time a pistol round stops inches from her before falling to the ground. Her teeth are gritted, brows furrowed. It is the same look she wore during firearm training. She movees out of my line of sight.
Movement detected
Seventh floor, 19th window from the left
Sniper
Easy shot, crosshairs line up with her face.
Violet eyes
"How many people have you killed?"
Hesitation
"I can't say that most of them deserved it though."
They do what they must to survive.
Take the shot
Crack of a rifle. She falls, a bullet deep into her right shoulder. She'll live.
Pathetic
Vi is safe
15 seconds, she'll call over the radio. Job is done, pack up, refusal to write up the report.
Officers will pick up the wounded sniper.
Father would be disappointed, so would mother.
"If you start something, you better be ready to see it until the end."
I should've killed her. She will cause harm to others. I took a vow to uphold the laws of Piltover and protect its citizens. I allowed a threat live when I had the perfect opportunity to eliminate it.
Have I done the right thing?
"No one should have the power to decide whether you get to live or die."
Perhaps
"Bagged, tagged, and ready to shag!"
Repulsive. Endearing.
I radio her to meet me back at the station. I am smiling softly. Warmth in my chest, relief that it is over.
I bring my fingers to my face. They pull away coated with blood. Catalyst side effects were never an issue, not until she joined. Missions were once calm, predictable, and meticulous. A game of chess.
Simple
Monotonous
Back to the station, back to control, to comfort.
To her.