EKKO

Ekko was always aware that life in the Undercity was anything but easy. Everything that was granted was, in truth, fought for. Even ever since before Vander fell and Silco rose to power. Be it food, or shelter, or a place to live.

In Ekko's current case, as the leader of the Firelights, his fight was for his gift of sleeping. Indeed, sleeping was a basic right granted to every being, but in his case he meant sleeping well, knowing he was making a difference, building a future while holding up the true legacy of the Lanes. The legacy represented in Vander, that is, not what was of tyrants and opportunists the Chem-Barons were.

That meeting only proved Ekko's point. No wonder Silco was unmatched - he wasn't alone in his ambitions. Fortunately, Ekko wasn't alone either, in his quest to atone the Undercity for it's bad choices. All those former Shimmer addicts, refugees and victims whom followed him saw a haven and a purpose in him, as well as a distant, but tangible glimpse of a better future. One that didn't require anyone deciding anything, either Trencher or - especially - Piltovan, the root of what most problems lied, that enabled people like Silco to ascend in power.

And now the greatest change came. Silco was gone, for good, and definitely for the better.

Now came the biggest test, one that determined the future of his group in the balance - having to face his past and bring it in, alive or dead. Alive would be better, but he knew he might not have a choice in that matter.

But that would be for later. At least he was sleeping well, he'd need that for what he'd have to do soon...

But then the biggest noise of all woke him, followed by a tremor unlike any other.

An explosion.

And then another. And another. Enough to make him jump out of bed and look out the window to his room.

Orange strobes everywhere as purple neon gunfire muzzles fired upwards everywhere, all erupting from a sound he knew too well.

"No...", Ekko muttered, in fear, his expression turning into a dawning horror. "NO!"

He immediately bolted out towards the door, opening it almost for it to overtake him. The fiery glow and smoking breath.

The tree was on fire and some smoke columns could be seen on some of the makeshift buildings around him.

He didn't have to know whom was the author to this. Except, now that strangely, the gunfire was gone.

She was gone.

"FIRE!", Ekko screamed, after a moment. "Get the extinguishers, NOW!"

The Firelights, those whom woke up at least, wasted no time and rushed to get their extinguishers, jumping into their boards and flying around the tree to contain the blaze and kill off the smoke columns. Ekko rushed downwards, adrenaline catching up to him. He had to know how many she had harmed. How much damage she caused.

Above all, he had to know how the hell she *found* them, to begin with. Even Silco's finest weren't able to find them for so long, and now that gun-toting maniac did. This was not good. If she could hit the Firelights like this, whom wondered what she'd do next time she'd pay them a visit.

'She must've known of the meeting.', he thought. 'There's no other explaining on this.'

It took at least some minutes before the fires died out, but the Firelights were all lit up from the explosions.

"Any wounded?", Ekko asked his faithful lieutenant.

"That's what's strange, just one.", Scar answered. "The guard Dent, but only blunt traumas. Knocked unconscious."

Ekko nodded in agreement. More likely how she got in.

"And Nills?", he asked. "Any word from him?"

"Not yet, he's not back.", Scar said, starting to realize. "You think he..."

"Must be how she found this place. Has to be.", Ekko concluded. "Go find-"

Bangs in the door were heard. Scar went to the door, weapon in hand, opening the peephole. "It's Nills.", he said, rolling the door aside.

The Firelight carrying supplies on his back bag went inside, looking around, noticing what just transpired, though not believing it. Ekko bared his teeth. That option was out of the table.

Somehow, she found the hideout.

"Ekko!", a voice called him, a young boy. "The memorial!"

Ekko and those around him started moving towards the boy, whom took him to the mural and showed him.

And Ekko wished he hadn't saw it.

The once inspiring and dedicated mural... all vandalized.

All the faces painted in there, as a memento of why they fought, scrawled all over in outrageous pink and sky blue.

Many of the faces with monsters painted over. The faces of Vi, Vander, Mylo, Claggor... The only exception was Powder's, with a sad, crying face painted over.

The word 'FAILURE' written repeatedly across the rest of the wall.

And there was an unwelcome addition in there. A doodled human Silco, smiling, with a halo atop his head, waving hi at everyone.

"What kind of person does this...", Scar spoke, almost haunted.

Right at the base of the mural, a message.

PARTY NIGHT.

SMACK-DAB WHERE YOU, ME, SISTER AND PILTIE MET.

DON'T KEEP A GIRL WAITING!

"Young one?", the voice of Heimerdinger called, getting into the scene. "Are you there? Are you injured?"

The Yordle stopped and beheld the mural, shocked.

Ekko's expression became an increasingly angry one. This was a clear act of war and both him and her knew it.

Scar didn't need to be an expert to read his expressions and know what he was thinking. "It's bait, Ekko, and you know it.", he warned.

"Sure I do.", Ekko replied, coldly, as he turned around. "How many are up and willing?"

Heimerdinger looked away from the mural and right into the group that was raising hands.

A dozen of them.

He knew where this was going and it wasn't good. And he hardly needed to be a scientist to predict that.