Author's Note
I take critic serious, so I rewrote parts of this chapter. I cut out unnecessary elements, shortened some parts and descriptions, and hopefully they're more emotions in the characters. I know some of you liked the old one...but I was unhappy about it myself, after I read it again. Too long, too many unnecessary things.
(Old Note) If you wondered how their bikes look, search for ‟Fenrir Final Fantasy" (as inspiration) you will find it then.
Chapter 15 (Reworked)
Motorized Escape
Slowly Riven awoke, and blinked a few times. For a moment she thought everything was just a dream and she would awake within the League besides Diana. But, as soon as she saw the rundown ceiling, she knew it wasn't. She closed her eyes for a moment, and yawned. At least she slept very good.
She felt beside her, only to find the rest of the bed empty. Diana had to be up already. Riven wondered for a short moment, as normally she would wake her up. Anyway. Riven stood up, arranged her more or less messy hair and clothing, and grabbed her sword. She put it on her back, and stretched.
Suddenly, she heard a loud noise from downstairs, it sounded like two people were discussing something very loud. She didn't understand what the topic was though. 'What the hell?', she
thought. She didn't waste any more time, and walked downstairs.
Riven stepped into the main room of the tavern and looked around. Vi and Irelia stood near the bar, and looked at each other angrily. Brian sat at the bar, a cup in his hand and watched them. Diana sat a bit away, and looked a bit annoyed while she drank out of a jug. Caitlyn was nowhere to see. No other guests were around.
‟That's the stupidest idea, I've ever heard!", Irelia shouted at Vi. She was clearly angry. One of her blades pointed at Vi, like it wanted to pierce through her.
‟Do you have something better in mind?", Vi grumbled back.
‟Not quite yet. But everything is better, than this! You want that a whole city is hunting us?"
‟Ladies! Calm down already!", Brian said in a calm tone. ‟With this loud noise, it's a wonder they didn't already catch us!" Irelia and Vi grumbled quietly at each other.
‟Morning", Riven said plainly, a bit confused. They looked at her and greeted back. Riven sat down beside Diana, which shortly smiled at her. ‟What is it? You can hear the noise upstairs."
‟Little discussion here", the innkeeper said and shrugged. ‟Do you want something?"
‟Something which help me to wake up, would be good", Riven answered and looked over her shoulder to Irelia and Vi, which stared at each other for a moment.
‟So...could anyone explain it to me?", Riven asked as calmly as she could. She nodded at the innkeeper, as he placed a cup before her. She nipped at it. It tasted like a combination of tea, and much sugar.
‟Vi suggested an escape plan, and already set everything up! But, that's ridiculous!", Irelia exclaimed agitated, and sat down as well.
‟She said, we should use the motorbikes to escape through the main door...our friend here", Diana nodded at the innkeeper, ‟told us that they all are guarded. We would break through, and escape through the plains." Her voice was calm as usual, and didn't reveal her feelings toward it.
‟What about Brian and Caitlyn?", Riven asked and looked to Vi. ‟Caitlyn said about these..things is only space for one person."
‟I organized two side cars, from one backyard shop. It took me half of the night, to attach them to our bikes. Brian and Caitlyn will sit in there, while the rest of us drive out. Any pursuers will get kicked away. Easy plan." Vi sounded very confident, that this would work out.
‟You know, that we three never used such vehicles. We should think about something else...", Riven replied calmly, and thoughtful. Her mind started working.
‟I told her that! But, she insisted that we could learn it until midday...and Brian..", Irelia glared over at the soldier, ‟supported this stupid idea!" Irelia grabbed a jug angrily, and drank out of it.
‟Vi is right about the thing, that you can easily learn it until midday. With a side car, it's even easier because you can't fall over to one side. Zaun doesn't have any high walls, or something like this. With our combined strength we can easily break through the barricades, and lose our pursues on the plains. In case of emergency..you can easily use your wind slash and fight them off", Brian explained to them, like a teacher would talk to his students.
‟Besides...we don't have much time to organize complicated plans. We need to get away from here, as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will find us eventually", Brian added, while the innkeeper put a tray with a breakfast on the wooden table. Brian nodded at him thankfully.
‟Hey moonlady. What is your opinion on this?", Vi asked her. She sounded like she hoped to find support from her. Diana looked annoyed for a short moment because of the name, and looked over her shoulder.
‟Huh...I don't like it either..but, in our condition...Brian has a broken leg, Caitlyn isn't able to move much either, so on foot isn't an option. And horses don't work too, as you told us", Diana said. She didn't look very happy about it. ‟Guess we need to stick with that plan. But, as Irelia said...it's a more or less stupid idea. After all we went through, that's the riskiest part of it."
Irelia sat down at the bar, and sighed frustrated. ‟We stake everything on one card, and hope that not the whole Zaun military wants to hunt us down."
‟You're such a pessimist, Ms. Hoverblade. Will be fine." Vi patted her on her shoulder. Irelia glared at her, and crunched her teeth.
‟I don't believe they would risk that much. After all Zaun can't officially help Elena in big ways, otherwise the League will punish the whole city for breaking the rules. Attacking and stealing technology from another city state, keep a champion of the League as a prisoner. That's some big issues. And when they start a big chase within the plains, it will be noticed", Brian explained.
‟You know much about it, don't you? I mean for someone who doesn't have to to much with the League", Riven asked, a bit surprised.
‟If you work for Elena, you caught many different things. One of them is the rules of the League and so on...just in case", Brian clinked with his tongue, and grinned broadly.
‟So...Riven? What is your opinion on this?", Irelia asked her. Her voice had a tone, like she was hoping Riven would be on her side, to think about another escape plan.
‟Huh...", Riven thought about it for a moment. She looked over the group. She didn't have any other plans right now in her head, and Brian got a point. Working one out would take far too long and every moment they waited here in Zaun, the risk raised to be discovered. Besides...with the heavy injured Caitlyn, they couldn't walk. ‟We don't have another choice. Guess it's worth trying."
‟Alright, then. If you say so, I'll follow the group's decision..even though I still think it's stupid", Irelia replied. She waved at them, and sighed a bit frustrated.
‟The only problem is...where do we practice something like this?", Riven asked, before someone answered she didn't expect.
‟There is an old junkyard nearby. Normally there aren't any people, nor police. I could organize something for you. We take the motorbikes there and you can practice the whole day. We will even refill the fuel", the innkeeper said, with a calm tone. ‟Will be ready within the hour."
‟We're in your debt", Riven said respectfully.
‟It's a friendly help", the man said. ‟I will tell you, when everything is ready." With that, he left the inn, hung the closed shield at the door and walked off. The group shortly looked after him.
‟Crazy man...why is he doing something like this?", Irelia asked, somehow impressed.
‟He's an old friend of mine. We were in the military, but he settled down after one campaign and built up his little tavern here. He owes me a few favors, because I saved his ass a few times." Brian grinned.
‟What's his name anyway? I mean...a Noxus man, who is working against Zaun?", Vi asked, a bit confused.
‟Jake. Even though that's not his right name. After the campaign he started anew in Zaun. Can't blame him, after all the things which happened back then", Brian said thoughtfully, and stretched his muscles. ‟Anyway...keep it with innkeeper or something like this." Brian started to eat, and put out a newspaper from somewhere.
There was a short silence between them, before Riven raised her voice again, with a question that burned in her since yesterday: ‟How did you enter Zaun anyway?"
‟We used a Zeppelin from Piltover, which brought us as close as it could. Then we waltzed right through the front door...this is why we wear this stuff here. Only Irelia sneaked in", Vi said and grinned to Diana. ‟And that's why she has this pigtails. Even though I told her she should have colored it neon pink." Diana grimaced for a moment, and for a moment it looked like she wanted to punch Vi.
‟Zaun have a horrible taste in fashion...and hair style..", Diana replied, as calm as she could.
‟Yep. I like your open long hair far more...", Riven said, with a quiet laugh. She earned a little nudge from Diana.
While Irelia and Vi started to discuss about the escape plan once more, Riven turned to Diana. ‟No real good morning today?", she said, with a played sad expression on her face.
‟Huh...you slept like a stone. No prince nor knight could wake up such a princess", Diana said in a playful tone, while Riven blushed slightly. ‟But, well, alright." She moved forward and gave Riven a rather short kiss on the lips.
‟Hm...feels good", Riven replied and smiled happily. ‟Right now...I know we can make it."
‟Glad to hear that. I guess...I should motivate you like this more often, huh?", Diana said with an amused tone.
‟Aww, you two are too cute!", Vi said, in a girlish sounding voice. ‟Do it again!"
‟Hey, Vi! You don't betray Caitlyn right now, do you?", Irelia asked, in a mocking voice. On her face was a grin.
Vi's face turned red for a moment. It was clear, that Irelia hit a spot. ‟Eh..eh..how you know this?", she asked, a bit embarrassed.
‟Oh, that's quite easy to see. But, it is true then?", Irelia asked curious.
‟Well...eh..." Vi didn't have any words right now, which was rather funny to see a tough girl like her embarrassed like this.
‟Well, your face says more than a thousand words!"
‟Irelia!", Vi shouted at her, while Irelia only laughed. Riven and Diana just sighed, and Brian didn't pay much attention to it, even though he grinned broadly.
After a few more minutes, they ate a small breakfast in the meantime, while Irelia and Vi discussed loudly with each other, the door to the inn was opened and the innkeeper stepped right in. He took the 'closed'-shield with him, and looked at the group. ‟Didn't want to break your little party here. But everything is ready for you. Brian you know the way, right?"
‟Yep. I will show them", he answered, and stood up with the help of Irelia.
‟Wait a sec...I will take a look at cupcake", Vi said caring and stood up as well. They waited for a short moment, until they both came down again. Vi helped Caitlyn to go. She looked pretty pale, but smiled. Riven clearly saw some bandages here and there, even though she tried to hide most of it with her clothing.
‟Morning...so we want to leave yeah?", she asked. She sounded exhausted.
‟Yeah. And we use the motorbikes, like Vi suggested. You're able to walk a short moment?", Riven asked. ‟Don't overdo it..", she added worried.
‟Yeah..will be fine. I will take a rest, when we arrive at the junkyard. Otherwise, Vi needs to carry me once more", Caitlyn answered, and smiled. Even though, she looked more like she would break down any moment.
‟Alright..let's go then."
‟Alright. Thank you man. I guess we don't come back", Brian said to the innkeeper. It sounded like a goodbye to an old friend.
‟Well, have a good life in Piltover then. Maybe I will visit you, when I have the time and the money for it", Jake replied amused. ‟I want to see two clever girls then, alright? If that is not the case..I will take care of their useless father." He laughed.
‟Ha! You will!", Brian replied, with a smirk. They shook their hands for a moment, before they saluted to each other in a last act of respect. ‟See you again, my friend."
‟Yep. And for everyone else here..good luck."
‟Thank you for everything...goodbye then", Riven replied, her voice filled with respect before the man. Everyone else nodded at the innkeeper, said a goodbye before they left and went on the streets of Zaun.
The only difference from the night was that there were much more people around. Different street merchants sold different goods, reaching from old hextech devices, and clothing to drugs, illegal magical substances and so on. It was a place where you probably could buy anything you want. Luckily, most people weren't really interested in their small group.
Brian led them through different alleys and streets. Two times they needed to hide, from passing patrols and armored army vehicles, which controlled passersby. Luckily, the noticed them soon enough. Riven was rather thankful about it, as they didn't need a fight in the streets. After a short time, they finally reached their destination.
‟There we are. Junkyard from Zaun", Brian said and pointed in front of them. The junkyard was a place filled with...junk. Small towers of old magical or technical devices filled the space. Riven didn't recognize even a few of them. At some spots she spotted some form of empty flasks, and small green puddles, were different mixtures mixed themselves together.
‟Zaun don't care much about their environment, do they?", Irelia said disgusted.
‟No, they don't. They take what they want, and do what they want. I guess they're the craziest people on all of Valoran..anyway, let's search for our escape vehicles", Brian replied, his voice was similar to Irelia's. Disgusted.
After a short moment of searching they found it. And Riven was more or less speechless. The motorbikes were all painted black and armored. Their wheels were even thicker than Riven's thigh.
The only spot of color, were some silver looking devices on the sides and back. On two of them Riven spotted the mentioned sidecars.
‟What...the...hell...", was everything Riven, Irelia and Diana could say in surprise.
‟Yeah! Now let's go we don't have much time. Mount up and drive!", Vi exclaimed, excited and from somewhere she took out some pair of goggles. ‟Put it on. To pretend dirt and dust coming into your eyes." She walked over to one of the bikes with a side car, and Caitlyn sat down.
‟This has to be a bad joke...", Riven said and put on the goggles, while she walked to one of the machines. She swung one leg over the seat and looked down. She spotted some instruments most likely for her speed, the other for the remaining fuel.
‟No it isn't. Now let me give you a short instruction", Vi said excited. She started to point at different positions, and told Riven what that was. Accelerator right feet, brake left feet. Steering by leaning to one side, in which she wanted to go.
‟Okay, that's it! Let's drive!", Vi shouted, like she gave the start signal for a race.
‟You throw me in like this? Oh man..." Riven sighed out and leaned a bit forward to reach the handlebar. It was like sitting on a horse in full gallop. Without the movement. She swallowed hard, and pushed the button to start the engine, which awoke with a loud roar.
‟You can do it, Riven! Or better..you have to!", Brian encouraged her.
‟I hate technology...", she replied with a grimace. Slowly she accelerated and took her left leg from the ground. At least she didn't feel over. Even though it felt pretty...strange.
‟More speed Riven! If we want to escape, we need to break through their front doors!", Vi yelled encouraging.
With no other choice, Riven accelerated a bit more. She looked down for a second on the instruments. It showed a 20, even though that was rather slow, she already was as fast as some horses.
‟Lean left! Left!" She heard Vi's voice, and looked forward. Directly before here was a small mountain of junk. The left side was empty enough to come through. She tightened the grip around the handlebars, and leaned onto her left side.
‟Too hard! You're leaning to hard!"
‟Ahh!", Riven yelled more or less in surprise, as she felt how the wheels lost ground contact. More in reflex than anything else, she jumped out of the seat, and landed on some metal junk while the motorbike just slid over the ground before it came to a hold. She moaned in pain.
‟Riven? You're alright?", she heard Diana's and Vi's voice which ran to her.
‟Yeah..yeah..I'm fine", she answered, while rubbing her back. That was a rather hard landing.
‟You leaned too hard on one side. You need to do it..softer", Vi explained it to her. ‟Nevertheless, a good start for a beginner. Alright. Let's try it again."
Slowly the hours passed, while the sound of roaring motors never stopped in the junkyard. It was far more complicated than Riven imagined. She needed to concentrate not to fall over, hold the balance and steer into the right directions, while holding up her blade and parry Diana's attacks. Even though she slowly got something like a feel for this kind of machine.
At one point Vi stopped them, while they tried a more or less complex chasing through the whole junkyard, driving pretty fast and tight corners.
‟It is time?", Riven asked neutral and stopped the motor. She put down her goggles, which left some marks on her face as she wore them for hours right now. She didn't feel ready for this plan. It was like the first day, after she received her sword. The blacksmith told her some of the magical powers, but even after years she hasn't fully learned everything. This was somehow similar. She was thrown into a battle, without proper preparations.
‟It is. You all did very well. You learned pretty fast...and it will be enough for us to get out of here. Alright, let's make a plan now. Diana you will take the one with a sidecar and Brian in it, I take the one with cupcake. You two cower us." Vi still sounded very confident of her plan. It fitted somehow to her attitude. Direct confrontation with much fighting.
‟You don't want to punch people?", Irelia asked amused.
‟Nah..not this time. Need to protect my cupcake. I couldn't stand it, if she is getting injured more", Vi answered in a serious tone.
‟No problems with that plan", Diana replied calmly. ‟I'm not the best driver anyway." She sighed for a moment, somehow a bit frustrated.
‟You did it well!", Riven said encouraging, and smiled at her.
‟Yeah, okay. Let's do it now", Diana replied, and sighed. She didn't look happy, but there wasn't any other chance.
‟Can't believe I really do that", Irelia said doubtfully, and got down from her motorbike. ‟Anyway, a rather interesting form of transportation."
‟Our goal will be Piltover", Caitlyn explained to them, while Vi was busy refilling the fuel tanks, ‟The direct way to the League is within Noxus borders, too risky for us. In Piltover we can take a zeppelin which will bring us directly to the League."
‟Oh, great...", Diana said sarcastically. ‟I'm forced to use this stuff here, and then taking a zeppelin." She rubbed her eyes, before putting on her goggles again.
‟Hey, when we arrived in Piltover you wanted to use one", Riven replied, and smirked.
‟Gosh..", Diana simply said, and sighed. ‟These were two different things!"
‟Yeah, yeah. Right", Riven said, amused. She checked if she could easily grab her blade, in case she needed to fight. She cracked her fingers, and neck. She felt excitement. It was like before a battle. Even though this one, would be fought on machines instead of horses. She breathed out, and put on her goggles.
‟So...everything's ready? How do we get out of here anyway? Aren't the streets too crowded", Irelia asked, while they got up on their bikes again. Brian and Caitlyn sat down in their sidecars, readying themselves.
‟On the back of the junkyard there are some side streets we could use. We just need to follow them, until we reached one of the entrances to Zaun. Then we will break through, and then..well. We better get going", Brian answered, and pointed in the direction.
Riven felt Diana's hand on her shoulder, and looked to her.‟Last trial, huh?", Diana whispered quietly, in a somehow afraid tone. It was obvious she was worried.
‟Yeah...don't worry. It will be fine", Riven replied, with an encouraging smile on her lips. Even though, she didn't really feel like this. She felt nervous, but tried her best to hide it before the others.
‟I hope it will...", Diana said, and took a deep breath. Riven looked over their group. Only Vi looked pretty sure, while the rest was more or less nervous. Irelia's blade whirled around in an impatient movement.
Riven licked her lips. ‟Alright. Let's...get going", she said, and tightened the grip around the handlebars. The sound of four starting motors filled the air.
Diana and Brian were at the front, after them Irelia and Riven, and the back was saved by Vi with Caitlyn. Riven looked around, while they slowly drove through the side streets. Only a few of the people took notice of them, most others just tried not to stay in their way. 'Good', she thought, and checked her goggles, which sat perfectly on her nose.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the 'gates' of Zaun. Soldiers and even some bioforge soldiers stood around and checked everyone who wanted in or out. Luckily, here was some sort of street for carriages and other vehicles, so no civilians would stand in their way. Diana grabbed her sword with one hand. She would use her magic, to blow up the barricades.
‟Ready?", she asked as calmly as she could.
‟Fuck...let's go", Riven exclaimed, and shook her head. She still didn't believe it. Diana and the rest of the group accelerated to the maximum, and drove with high speed in the direction of a small barricade. They saw how some soldiers pointed at them with guns or something like this.
‟Out of the way!", Diana yelled, drew her sword with one fluid movement and swung it. Bolts of moonlight blew up the whole barrier, and with a loud noise they just burst through the remains of it. They heard some gunshots, and Riven even heard some metallic noises, as the bullets hit the armored parts of her bike.
The land before them now, was more or less nothing more than plains. Only a few smaller mountains, stones, and so on were on their way. They drove on something, which looked like it was a street a rather long time ago. Riven felt the wind on her face, and somehow she grinned. She looked down at the instruments. 50...55...Vi explained that it meant 'miles per hour'. 'Fifty-five miles in one hour...only magic is faster', Riven thought.
Somehow...she enjoyed this. The feeling of the wind, the high speed and the adrenaline within her, the mountains and smaller things which they passed in a blink of an eye. 'So...this is what they call...freedom huh?', she thought amused.
Suddenly she heard other noises. Riven looked over her shoulder. ‟We got company!", she yelled. At least twelve other motorbikes chased them. A giant dust cloud was behind them. She heard the faint sound of gunshots, even though the bullets didn't hit them. She slowed down a bit, together with Irelia to cover the rear of their group.
‟Alright! Let's take them out!", Vi yelled excited. Riven saw how the injured Caitlyn took out her sniper rifle, and turned around. Aiming down at their chasers. A gunshot was heard, and as Riven looked back once more, one of their chasers was nowhere to see.
‟We'll take them out in close combat!", she shouted and slowed down even more. Irelia was directly beside her.
‟Be careful there!", she heard Diana's voice, which held her blade in her left hand. Even Brian got ready, with his sword and knives.
Riven drew her blade and hold it with one hand. Luckily, she didn't need to steer much in this wasteland. She was happy about the goggles, otherwise she wouldn't be able to see even a bit right now. ‟I'll take left!", she yelled to Irelia.
‟Alright. I got the right side!", Irelia yelled back, and steered a bit more to the right side, while slowing down.
Riven herself leaned a bit left, so that there was enough space between them. Riven heard other gunshots, and even heard how one of their chasers went down again. Most likely Caitlyn which shoot back. 'This will be..interesting', Riven thought.
Then she was surrounded. Left of her was one of the Zaunite soldiers, on the right side another one. They wore a more or less light outfit, their weapons were some pistols, some brass knuckles, which looked like someone could parry even Mundo's cleaver with that, and a short sword.
‟Sorry..don't have time for games", she yelled and releases a Ki Burst to the left soldier. He lost control over his bike for a moment and drifted to the left, which bought her enough time to parry an attack from the other soldier, which attack her with his brass knuckles. She shortly saw some electricity.
They exchanged a few attacks and parries with each other. While their weapons were stuck with each other, Riven saw how he took away his second hand from the handlebars and tried to get his gun. Riven didn't waste much time. She released the runic energy in a strong Ki Burst, which was more or less like a smaller version of her wind slash.
She heard how the man cursed, as he lost control over his bike. She accelerated more, to get away from him, as he fell over to one side. No need that he take her with him. Riven had a moment to look at Irelia, which handled herself pretty well against two other chasers. One of them went down, as one of her blades hit him in the back. Her weapons were rather deadly, in a fight like this.
Riven looked forward for a moment. She leaned to her left side, as she spotted how a rock came closer. She barely avoided it. She breathed out, before she suddenly felt some pain in her right side. She looked down for a moment. 'Graze shot?', she thought as she spotted some blood. 'Focus on the street...no time for this.'
‟Stop! Now!" She heard how one of the soldiers yelled, as he got closer to her. He didn't even try to engage her in close combat, and instead rammed the backside of her own bike, with his front wheel. She nearly lost control for a moment, before she found the balance again. She heard the sound of gunfire again, which luckily, missed her.
‟Okay..now they start to annoy me. Time to get serious", she said to herself. She concentrated for a moment, and finally held her fully assembled sword in one hand. Her chaser which shot at her was left, directly in sight. She didn't waste much time, and released a wind slash. The wave of energy hit the side of his bike, and let him fall over the side.
Other chasers were closing in. She heard how bullets, were blocked by her sword. She looked behind her. From the once twelve soldiers only six remained. Two of them were busy with Irelia, while the four others avoided them both and tried to catch up with Vi and Diana.
'Oh no..not with me!', Riven though and crunched her teeth. She was close to the end of the display, which was a 70. She eventually got closer to them, as they adjust their speed to the slower bikes of Diana, and Vi.
Even though her intervention wasn't really needed. Diana took one of the chasers out, by simply impaling him with bolts of lunar energy. He fell from his bike, which now uncontrolled nearly hit the sidecar in which Brian sat. Riven heard the curses from him.
‟Need help?!", Riven yelled and releases another wind slash, which hit the back wheel of the other chaser and nearly destroyed half of his motorbike. He jumped off in panic, and landed in the dust of the plains.
‟Thanks!", Diana shouted back, and grinned.
Caitlyn and Vi did well, too. Riven saw how one of their chasers went down, as a bullet hit him in his chest. The other one struggled with Vi in hand to hand combat, before the stronger Piltover enforcer punched him in his face multiple times. He nearly lost control over his bike. A blade from the closer coming Irelia ended the short fight.
‟Everyone down?", Diana yelled at them.
‟Yeah most likely. The ones who survived, won't follow us", Riven yelled back. They drove in a line now, while Riven and Irelia took the outside.
‟Boom baby! That was damn cool! I guess they will not come again!", Vi yelled euphoric. ‟And you're being such a pessimist Ms. Hoverblade! You fought, like you were born on wheels!"
‟I really should take one of these things with me..." Irelia laughed relieved.
‟Nice fighting ladies! Now could we get to Piltover? I don't want to eat more dust!", Brian complained, with a smirk.
‟Alright. Let's get going! Don't want to waste any more time here!", Riven exclaimed, and earned loud approval from the others. She felt...great. 'Well...that was an experience I will never forget', she thought and smirked.
With high speed they drove over the large plains of the Zaun's countryside. And with every moment, they finally got closer to a more friendly city-state.