A/N:

Soon the last chapter!

I'm trying to stick to writing to about twenty chapters in each story since I don't want to prolong it forever, so it's with those boundaries I'm writing all of this. There will be a sequel to Techmaturgical Precision since this story leaves us with many unanswered questions and not yet revealed characters. I hope you've had a pleasure reading it so far and will continue to support me! Be sure to tell me your opinions if you have any!

CHAPTER 4:4

Vi woke up to the smell of black coffee and hot sandwiches.

"Ugh..."

Her stomach growled in hunger but she was too tired to get up. She kicked away the soft blankets to the floor and rolled to her left side, and groaned as dim sunlight suddenly shone right into her closed eyes.

"Wake up."

Vi shadowed her squinting eyes from the bright sun and saw someone standing by the windows. The person was quickly rolling up the blinds and to her dismay, he was already properly dressed and had probably eaten as well. "He" as in Jayce.

"What are you..." Vi blinked a couple of times. She gazed down at her body and realized she was almost naked. Her legs were bare, as well as her arms and a larger part of her torso.

"Mh?" he asked while fixing the last window. He glanced over his shoulder. "I ordered some breakfast–"

"Don't turn around!" she yelled and reached for the blanket on the floor. Vi tried to ignore her reddening face as she wrapped the smooth material around her body.

"Is... everything alright?"

How did I end up like this? "Eh," Vi charged towards the bathroom, "yeah!" she called back. "Nothing special." She hesitated a moment before asking, not knowing if he would consider her stupid because she was unable to remember the night before, but decided to go for it anyways. "Did we... sleep together?"

She quickly locked the door behind her and waited for his reply. A headache was disabling her ability to think clearly and she couldn't recall anything after their rather... intimate meeting in the elevator. She was pretty sure that they hadn't done anything more than holding hands on their way up and to the room, and she also remembered saying goodnight before occupying the very large bed... but then it ended. Vi just hoped she hadn't done or said anything embarrassing; being tired was equal to being half-drunk for her, at least in many cases.

There was a lengthy pause and something that sounded like a half-stifled laughter before Jayce answered.

"Well," – Vi rolled with her eyes; Jayce was obviously very amused – "we did sleep together. But we didn't share bed if that's what your implying. I took the couch. And a pillow. What's the matter about? You feeling alright?"

Nothing, thankfully. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied and exhaled in relief. Puh. I better change subject. "So, where are we going this early?"

"Early?" His voice came from right outside the door and startled her. Vi guessed he was practically talking straight into the door. "It's ten."

"And? It's early," she said casually and shrugged, even though she knew he couldn't see him. "So, what's up?"

Vi heard him sigh heavily. "As I told you before, I'm going after Viktor. He has something that belongs to me."

Vi let the blanket fall to the tiled floor with a yawn. No longer feeling embarrassed or shy, she saw that her face had regained its normal skin tone in the mirror hanging above a rather modern sink. "A life, maybe?" she asked with a grin.

"Very funny," answered Jayce dryly but she could hint some humor behind his words. "But wrong. It belongs to Piltover as well and I'm going to collect it. You know all about it already, so drop the facade, Officer."

What a good officer I am, she thought moodily. Being MIA in Zaun with the chief's ex-boyfriend. A true symbol of justice and goodness. "Never mind, my only goal was to be funny and you agreed. Win for me."

"Women," he muttered, his voice drastically decreasing in volume. "Impossible creatures."

"I heard that!" she called and her smile widened. Gotcha.

"You were meant to."

Damn.

Vi didn't answer but went to wash her face by the sink. The headache was slowly dissipating from her senses but still managed to make her grimace in pain whenever she tried to think. She hoped that the cold water would bring her mind back.

"... going with me? I won't force you or anything."

Vi reached for a nearby towel and dried her face and some of her hair that had gotten soaked in the process. "What?" she asked and frowned. She just realized that she had never brought any change of clothes with her.

"I was wondering if you'd go with me. To search for Viktor."

Vi slapped herself in the face. I woke up too early. It's his fault I'm forgetting all these things. "Yeah, I promised I would, right?" She bit her bottom lip and contemplated her different options before finally deciding the most awkward but least difficult choice. "Jayce, could you check the bed for my clothes? I... It seems like I undressed during the night."

He laughed heartily. "Are you serious? Why?"

"I don't know." Her cheeks flushed again. "A habit, I guess. I've never noticed," she said nonchalantly. "I'm not really used to company."

"Likewise, though I've never awoken to myself being naked. You should check it up." She heard him by the door. "Here, I found them."

Vi opened the door ever so slightly and snatched her belongings, then locked the door. "Thanks," she said while dressing. After observing her reflection in the mirror a couple times more than was necessary, she exited the bathroom. Her stomach growled and she followed the smell. "What was it you said about breakfast?"

"There are reports on the ever increasing criminality, Sheriff. I fear it's serious."

"What are we to do with the security at the train station, Chief? Many people are using them, but more and more people get away without paying. It will be an adversity against the budget proposition that the statesmen have put up. It's grave; Piltover is losing big money."

"Caitlyn, there has been an outbreak as of late... Especially in the lower levels but also here."

"Sheriff, are you listening?"

Caitlyn shook her head and sipped of the bitter cup of tea she was holding. She had forgotten they were there; her mind was too busy with else. C.

"I apologize," she quickly said and turned to the man that had spoken first. Theodore. Only he called her Sheriff of all the police officers in her command. "What do you mean by 'increasing criminality'?" she asked and drank her tea again.

"You see, we've gotten lots of calls by the lower levels of an outbreak of gunfire but whenever we've reached the scene, we found nothing but graffiti and emptied bullets. I sent the bullets to the lab, but you don't need any techmaturgicy to see that the markings on every bullet are identical. Whoever the person or the persons might be, he or she or they are the same every time. Same graffiti and similar bullets."

"'Similar bullets'?" Caitlyn made quotation marks in the air. "Explain."

Theodore furrowed his brows. "The lab haven't sent their report yet, but I've investigated a bit on my own. After searching every area again, I noticed dark markings here and there, as after an explosion. Further investigation took me to find out that the criminals possess quite a large range of weapons, both bombs and machine guns. Latest weaponry, and most likely from Zaun."

Caitlyn frowned. "And why have nobody informed me of this?" she asked angrily. "This is much likely a terrorist organization and they are after something important. Theodore, what have they gotten so far?"

"To answer your first question, Sheriff, I didn't think it was worthy to tell about," he answered and looked at the other two people in the room. They nodded in agreement and Caitlyn crossed her arms. "What?" she asked.

"They didn't steal anything or physically harm anyone. They've just been shooting around. I think it's a message to us."

"Explicate your train of thought, Theodore," commanded Caitlyn. "I don't really understand."

"It's a threat," he answered and stared her in the eyes. "The graffiti, the waste of ammunition... it must be."

But who could it be? "What does the graffiti say?" she wondered and sipped her tea again.

"Only a couple of words in pink. It's all very..."

"Very?"

Theodore pulled out a couple of pictures from a file he was holding and put it on her desk. "It looks very childish. Thick letters in a bold, pink color and very sloppily drawn. Doesn't seem any organized at all, in all honesty. I haven't figured out all of it, but I've never seen anything similar in my whole career."

Caitlyn straightened in her seat and leaned forward towards the table, closer to the images. There were about four of them, all showing the same word: Jinx.

Jinx... What's Jinx? "This makes absolutely no sense," she finally said after trying to find out some logical explanation for the word. "What is this? Are these pictures from every crime scene?"

Theodore nodded and gave her the rest of the file. "I've compressed all of the necessary information into this. I hope it's enough because this has gotten out of my hands. It's without shame I discontinue the investigation and offer it to you. I really hope you can solve it, Sheriff."

Caitlyn sighed but received the thick fold of papers with an appreciative smile. "I really thank you for your efforts, Theodore, and hopefully I'll clear this up."

Jinx.

"Next?" she wondered and looked at the other officer. He was large and bulky with the look of a brute's, but she knew he was a very kind man and loyal as few. His name was Kareth and the harsh name spoke for itself: he was born a Noxian but had fled to Piltover during the war to protect his sick sister. Since then, he'd been branded an exile of the nation and been hunted by Noxian agents – until Caitlyn met him and helped him settle in the City of Progress. She had created a citizenship for him and he had in exchange for all of her help, decided to join her department. He'd almost always been a first pick for her when she needed a partner until Vi showed up.

Vi, why did you leave me in such a hurry? Why to Zaun? And with Jayce? I thought you hated him.

"Chief, I've received many complaints about the insufficient security system by the payment machines and the manual are too busy to handle everything. Things are slowly but steadily going out of control, so what do you suppose we do?"

Caitlyn put down her empty cup of tea on her worn-out desk and leaned back into her chair. It reclined slightly backwards and she crossed her legs. So many problems, so little time. "I suggest you to put in more men, because that's all we can do. Be sure to try and get up posters explaining how to use the payment machines; maybe there are people who don't know how to use them and thinks they're free. Put up as many information boards as possible and tighten the security by the train doors. Be sure to check every ticket to see if it's valid. This will most likely lengthen the time to use the trains, but that's what we'll have to do. Also, send a request to the academy that we need some sort of system to check the passengers' tickets I'm a quick fashion," she finished.

Kareth nodded. "Anything else, Chief?"

"Yes." Caitlyn sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She was already feeling dry in her throat. "Please get that bloody bastard on the line! I've been calling him for ages!"

The ex-Noxian laughed but Theodore remained serious as always. "What 'bastard', Sheriff?"

"Ezreal, of course!" she exclaimed. "I've been wanting to have a good damn talk with him ever since he got into that place. The Institute of War, am I correct?"

"Yes, Sheriff, but didn't you hear the news?"

Caitlyn shook her head. "Enlighten me."

"Seems like they're blocking every type of outer techmaturgical communication tool from entering the League. Ever since the death of Grand General Swain and the sudden appearance of Councilor Kolminye's corpse. They're trying to keep it as quiet as possible. Not even letters are allowed for the time being."

"I knew all this," she said calmly. She was still bitter by the fact that she hadn't been allowed to investigate the League's odd death occurrences. "And I thought they solved it long time ago."

Theodore grimaced. It surprised Caitlyn because she was never used to the man showing any exterior emotions. "They're in another twist as well. A recently arrived champion escaped from their halls. Seems like she's extremely dangerous because they've even sent out the senior summoners to handle the matter."

"How do you know all this?" she asked Theodore. "If not even I get to know?"

"My very dear friend is a champion there. She has an ability to communicate with me and I do trust her words with my life," he replied. "But in her recent report, she told me that they had found the woman."

"But not captured, I reckon," muttered Caitlyn. "So many complications, so terribly little time. Theodore, thank you for your hard work."

He nodded and stayed quiet. Caitlyn turned her attention to the last of the three: a short, stubborn woman with a loud voice and an extreme talent for observing and remembering. She wasn't officially an employee of Caitlyn's department, but they were good friends and helped each other when it was necessary. Otherwise, Miranda used to stay in her office at the City Hall as the stateswoman for Health Care and Education Development.

"Miranda," greeted Caitlyn and gave her a nod.

The woman nodded back. "Caitlyn, nice to see you for once. I've been far too busy to take a trip to your station, but the news I'm coming with are much severe and I really wish it wouldn't have been necessary to come."

"What is it?" asked Caitlyn anxiously. Miranda was a very tough woman and rarely seemed bothered at anything but there was something heavy in her green eyes.

"There seems to have spread an epidemic here in Piltover. I don't know if it's due to the newly installed trains that has transferred the disease to our city, but this is, I daresay, the most important matter of all of ours." Miranda handed her a file as well. "Something is disturbing people's sleep," she said quietly. "And I fear it's getting worse. I'm not calling it an epidemic for naught; seventeen deaths have been found since I first heard about this sickness, which was two weeks ago."

"Dreams, you say?"

Caitlyn heard the emptiness of her own voice and repeated herself. She only hoped that none of them had noticed it. "What dreams, exactly?"

"And how do people die by dreams?" asked Kareth, sounding worried also. "Is there something about jumping off roofs and then the person do it in real life as well?"

Miranda sighed heavily. "They aren't just normal dreams. Most people would call it nightmares. It's driving some poor souls insane, making them so scared of sleeping that they'd rather kill themselves."

"And how can this be cured?" Caitlyn tried to ignore the coldness in her stomach and heart. "There must be a way, right?"

The stateswoman shook her head. "I'm on it, together with my whole office, but we haven't even been able to figure out how it's spreading nor its origin of cause. We're stuck and could really need some help. I beg you Caitlyn, this is the most critical issue."

Caitlyn nodded thoughtfully. Nightmares... am I one of the affected? "Theodore," she said and gave him back his heavy file. "I'm sorry but I'll have to ask you to continue the research. I will get back to you as soon as I can but for now, my biggest concern is the health of our citizens." Caitlyn turned to Kareth. "And I suppose the trains aren't longer of my concern?"

"Yes, Chief, thank you for your time." He gave her a salute and so did Theodore before they exited the room. Miranda remained and Caitlyn gestured for her to sit down on the chair in front of her desk.

"Thank you for choosing my case," she said appreciatively and seated with a sigh. "I'll tell you all I've got to know so far and I'll call you whenever we find out something new."

Caitlyn reached for a pen and a notebook in one of her neatly sorted drawers and browsed the pages before finding a clean sheet. "Start."

"So you mean that you met this drunk guy in the bar..."

"Yes, Kaeden."

Hmm... Kaeden. "And he told you about his life without even knowing you..."

"Yes, he did. He wasn't drunk though, only polite."

Vi raised her eyebrows at him as he opened the door and let her walk out of the hotel first. "And you thought it was completely normal?"

Jayce nodded in agreement. "Yes," he answered and exited as well, while letting the door behind them close by itself. "He didn't seem like a bad guy."

"But he talked about Caitlyn like he knew her personally and that still doesn't make you wonder?" asked Vi.

"Not the slightest."

Vi couldn't stop herself from bursting out into laughter. "Wow, you guys..."

"What?" he asked and frowned.

They started walking down the road towards the industrial areas. Zaun hadn't yet started using taxis so Vi and Jayce had asked the hostess from yesterday if the city-state used buses as public transport. Since they fortunately enough were available, the two Piltoverans had been directed further down the street in search for the closest bus stop.

There was a slight uncomfortableness between the two. Vi hadn't mentioned anything about the night before and neither had Jayce. The former was too shy to bring it up and the latter too shocked with his own decision that he had yet to realized what he had done. Vi hoped that it would pass soon, because she had never expected it to end up like it had done: only tense silences and small talk.

"Isn't it even a tiny bit suspicious?" she wondered. "And that about his step-mother being pregnant was bullshit."

"What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "I don't know if your any familiar with female bodies and pregnancy and all that..." Vi glanced at him and he shook his head. "I thought so. Two weeks won't really tell when a woman is pregnant. It requires at least three weeks before it can even be tested. Four weeks are recommended though."

Jayce frowned and stopped in his tracks. She stopped as well. "Are you sure?" he asked in surprise.

"Yeah, pretty sure," she replied and nodded.

"A hundred percent certain?" he asked again. "Do you have any personal experience?"

Vi inhaled sharply. "No!" she blurted out and shook her head. "No, nothing like that. I've just read about it, that's all." Please, don't figure out...

Jayce looked at her in concern but his features suddenly turned shocked. "Vi... Really?"

She didn't know what to say. How did he know? "Eh, what? No, nothing," she nervously stammered and tried to smile. "What are you talking about?"

He took a step towards her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. His eyes still revealed his shock and Vi felt extremely embarrassed. She wanted to disappear into the ground and never return.

"Do you..." Jayce swallowed. "... really have a kid?"

Vi wanted to slap him.

"What the fuck?" She didn't know if she was angry or just relieved, but did at last choose the latter. "I'm definitely not some mom," she continued and laughed. "You really think I'd stay quiet about having a child? Uh-uh. My kid would be awesome." Her laughter ceased and she glared at him as angrily as she could. "I should really hit you. Maybe get your thinking right again."

He flinched, thinking she would take her words into action, but when Vi stayed still with her arms crossed and foot tapping against the street, he also laughed.

"Wow, that was so bad of me, I'm sorry for offending you." He wiped an invisible tear from his left eye and smiled. "Damn, I'm bad. But what is it then that bothers you about pregnancy?"

Now it was her time to flinch. He observed her movement and Vi saw that another realization washed over him – the real truth. She knew he had guessed right this time and averted her gaze. Fuck.

"So you..."

"Nope."

"Are you serious?"

"Yap."

"Never? Not even something... Something similar?"

Vi sighed. "I'm being completely honest. I've never had sex with anyone."

"What?!"

Caitlyn stared at Miranda in disbelief and lowered her voice as she continued. "Really? Is that true?"

I guess the whole office has heard me already... but it doesn't matter. This will become public news soon enough. "There is a prisoner at the Institute of War capable of manipulating people's dreams? Why am I never told everything at once?"

Miranda shook her head and gestured for Caitlyn to calm down. "I know it's hard to think someone else but the creature could be responsible for Piltover's spiraling downfall, but I'm more than certain that this has nothing to do with the monster," she murmured reassuringly. "And there's no point of investigating it; The Eternal Nightmare, otherwise called 'Nocturne' is a champion of the League and we have no jurisdiction over there. But I don't think Piltover's crisis is the work of something like that."

"Why not?" snapped Caitlyn. "There must be a good reason why the summoners keep such short leashes on their prisoners. They're restrained with chains and magic for more reasons than one: they are incredibly dangerous and unpredictable."

"Yes, they really are," agreed the stateswoman and turned her green-colored eyes towards the window. "But those shackles remain intact. I visited the League as soon as I first heard about the epidemic and, accompanied by a couple of senior summoners, I had a tour down to their dungeons. 'Nocturne' was sealed."

Caitlyn sighed and closed her notebook. She had written down everything Miranda had said and tried to get a full view of the escalating issue but it was simply impossible. There were too many loose ends and even the sickness itself was twisting her sense of logic. How could dreams cause such an infernal disease to make people go insane? To make them homicidal?

"I trust you," replied Caitlyn resignedly. Her only lead had already gotten analyzed and rejected. "Though I suggest we should keep an eye on the champion."

"Wouldn't have thought with something else," nodded Miranda. "My spies are scouring our nation for any possible clue and I've even sent some of my more experienced agents to the other city-states. They've got nothing yet though."

Then I better search with them. The Sheriff swiftly rose to her feet and grabbed her rifle and hat. "I'll join them. Nothing else to add, I reckon?" she wondered.

"Actually... There is."

Caitlyn furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't like the hesitation in Miranda's voice. "Yes?"

"I..." The stateswoman exhaled and pulled out an opened letter from her portfolio. She dropped it on Caitlyn's desk like she had burnt herself. "Here. I got this, though it was addressed to you."

"Did you read it?" she immediately asked even though she had already guessed it.

"Yes," confessed Miranda. "I thought it was something for me before I saw your name, but by then it was already too late."

Liar. You would've never missed a detail like that. "And what did it say?"

"I didn't understand... but it seemed like some kind of prank," replied the stout woman and stood up as well. "Listen, I know I shouldn't pry into your private life, but–"

"No you definitely shouldn't," interrupted Caitlyn coolly and frowned. "You really shouldn't."

Their eyes met. Miranda was ashamed.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I really am. It contradicts my own policy." She sighed. "But I can't help but wonder what kind of trouble you are in. Whoever the writer is... he or she is quite terrifying."

"What do you mean?"

Miranda pointed at the letter as she exited the office. "Read it," she said. Her face was unreadable. "It's... weird."

Caitlyn remained still and waited for the door to close completely behind Miranda before she reached for the letter. The Sheriff noticed that her friend had chosen not to give her the envelope that usually contained the threatening message and huffed in irritation.

What makes her think she can spy on me? I'm the Sheriff of Piltover. She's just some replaceable workforce with a sharp tongue and mind. Damn, what does C want to have said now?

Caitlyn unfolded the slightly crumpled paper and leaned towards her desk. As she quickly read the letter, her limbs stiffened in cold fear and she didn't know what to think. She dropped the thin sheet of paper and rushed towards the entrance and exit of her police station. There were thick, heavy clouds hanging over the city and she could sense the tension of a storm, but nothing other out of the ordinary. Caitlyn felt an eerie familiarity in her steps as she continued out on the street and searched for Miranda, though she couldn't really put her finger on it. She tore her gaze away from the sky and turned back towards the towering building that was her home and workplace. There was a dark silhouette standing on the roof.

Miranda.

The woman took a step out into the air and for one moment it looked like she was floating. It seemed like she was going to soar out and over the city, only to continue flying to somewhere else. Maybe to a happier place. But the pathetic and fragile illusion instantly crumbled as Miranda's body slammed into the ground with a blood-curdling sound.

She screamed.

Awkward.

Vi followed Jayce around a corner and sighed in frustration. That was so awkward. Why do I have to be so fucking honest about everything?

He halted. "Here it is."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What makes you think he'd remain at the same place as before he stole your precious little gem?" asked Vi skeptically. They were standing outside a cellar door deep inside an alley, far somewhere into the narrowest part of the industrial area. Jayce had led her to the place without any hesitation. "Seems a bit weird that he'd return to his former laboratory."

"It might look that way, but there is a reason why Viktor will be in here," he replied with confidence. He unzipped his bag and revealed the same thing she'd seen yesterday in his home. His weapon had the shape of a golden hammer and it shone with a strong blueish glow even in the dimness of the dirty alleyway. He gripped it with a determination that almost scared her; Jayce was definitely not backing down from this.

"Just..." Vi opened her own bag and picked up her heavy gauntlets. She pulled them on and activated them by pushing an inner button. "He knew you'd go after him," she continued and stretched out her fingers. The mechanisms worked fine. "Right?"

Jayce nodded. "I guess he's fixed some kind of defensive security system. Knowing him as well as I do, I reckon he has a plan B as well." He sighed. "We must try to seal all exits, and priority the box above everything. If there is a choice where he escapes and we can have the crystals, I want you to take them and get back to Piltover."

"Why me?" she complained. "I'm going to miss all the fun!"

Jayce smiled and carefully caressed her cheek. She didn't protest. "That tiny, unassuming box is of extreme importance to our nation," he told her, his voice severe and honest. "Please. When we're down there, I'm the one in charge. I know Viktor. We won't get in any trouble as long as you listen to me."

I'm used to being ordered around, she thought grimly. We've both been there. "So you're telling me to follow a rookie like you? I'm still not convinced you can fight."

"Exactly," he said as if it was self-explanatory. Vi grinned. "That's why I need you to hold my back. We don't know what kind of traps he might have set up or if he has any guards. It'll be dangerous, but I trust you."

"Of course you do, handsome. I work with this. You don't," she said. "There's no doubt I'm going to handle the action, but will you? He was, after all, your best friend."

Jayce's smile faded away. "It doesn't matter about the past. What has been done has been done, and I can't change it. But I can change what's now and what will be the future." He pointed at the cellar door. "What's waiting down there is wrong. He deserves to suffer."

"So you're going to bash in his head?" she asked defiantly. "Slap him senseless? Beat him?" Vi hesitated before saying it: "Kill him?"

He sighed and pulled away from her. His voice was but a whisper as he replied. "Perhaps."

You haven't even thought about it yourself, she realized. This is more than just to make things right... "I'm not going stop you from murdering him," she murmured quietly, "but I'm not going to let you do that to yourself. Jayce, you're a good guy. Killing him would scar you forever."

There was a long paus before he finally answered. "You're right," he admitted. "I won't kill him; I'll drag him back to Piltover and put him to court. The government won't bypass that – and neither will Caitlyn."

"Yeah," she said, content that he actually listened. "Much better."

Jayce smiled. "Thanks, Vi," he replied and placed his hand on her shoulder. "For being here for me."

"No problem," she answered and pointed at the cellar door. "Let's go! I'm ready to kick some cyborg-arse!"