CHROSS
Chross was known - and feared, rightfully so - in the underground for several reasons. He was a Chem-Baron, within the inner circle once helmed by Silco and his ambitious - though somewhat *intangible* - dreams of a nation of Zaun, emancipated from Piltover. He was the master of the Hush Company, the infamous information wetwork and service brokering, seconded only to the Slickjaws which provided mostly muscle and manpower, including a number of Hush jobs. Thus it could be said that he and the late Finn - killed by Sevika during an attempted coup against the also late Silco, according to poor Renni, at least - had a professional understanding.
And he also definitely wasn't one of a fixed place to stay. Those whom did attempt finding him at a supposed place eventually failed. He wasn't one to use a fixed vehicle either. And didn't go either in order or stayed more than one night at a place. He wasn't methodical. Many figured that's how a virtual 'shadow emperor of the underground' probably stayed alive for so long.
And now a vehicle, a shut-in delivery wagon, had just arrived in front to one of the multiple rundown hotels by the second fissure, in spite of the blockades and patrolling enforcers since the whole mess started. Two men, high and muscular, clearly capable of heavy duty, went to the back of the wagon and opened it's doors, removing the 'FLAMMABLE' crates within, revealing a rather poshy interior at the back end of the cargo hold, including a small liquor stand, a mirror, a small rack with a radio on top.
And there was also Chross himself, sitting on his comfortable wheelchair, on which he pushed it with his hands forward until reaching the end of the wagon, on which the men picked up each side of the wheelchair and carefully put him down on the street, on which one then pushed Chross' wheelchair to the inside of the building as the other one opened the door. The interior of the hotel was *too* humble, a simple reception desk and a staircase besides it, the set of keys to the assorted rooms on it's back. On the other side was a corridor with a door to the right, the elevator, and another on the deep end, the very owner's room.
"Mister Chross.", the receptionist, slightly shaken by the presence of so frail, yet powerful, a man. "T-the room is ready for you, sir. So's the elevator."
"So it is.", Chross shrugged, turning his head leftwards. "Floor minus, please, Heugh."
"Yes, mister Chross.", the henchmen pulling the wheelchair, Heugh, nodded and headed to the elevator, pushing the wheelchair. Heugh, Chross, and the second henchmen, Buron, opened the elevator and it headed upwards to the specified floor.
Of course, the floor below the one where Chross would spend the night. A simple, but effective security measure as the proper checking was done in the real room. As the elevator arrived, the floor's corridor, now one with doors each leading to a room, seemed empty. Too empty. And that was almost too suspect, hence why Heugh and Buron unholstered the sidearms stored at the back of Chross' wheelchair, and walked up slowly, eyes keen all around to the proposed room where Chross would be safeguarded while the checkup was done. The floor did see better days, and the roof looked like something sliced through it, and needed reform.
As they arrived before the door, Buron put his hand on it's handle and cocked the sidearm's hammer to fire before working the handle, opening the door slowly.
As the door opened, it revealed the humble bedroom was rather instead occupied, with someone sitting down on it's center. It seemed like a man, standing still, a pale one with short hair and short beard.
"Nero?", Chross asked, surprised.
But no answer came.
Chross stared at Buron and signaled him to check him out as Heugh cocked his gun as well.
A couple of seconds after Buron entered the room, a noise was heard above Chross and Heugh, getting them off guard. Above them, something pulsing magenta slashed through the roof, connecting the cut marks above, forming a triangle. A triangle that shortly detached from the roof and started falling right on top of Heugh and Chross, making the henchmen push the wheelchair forward, all three entering the room.
Something descended from the roof then. A hooded figure, the hood stuck to a red ponche behind black and brown clothes, the luminous, fiery magenta blade sticking out of a mechanical prosthetic.
The hooded figure wasted no time and charged Heugh as Buron tried aiming, but knew was risking his own boss as it. The hooded figure jabbed Heugh's jaw with the human hand and then stabbed him twice with the fiery blade, one stab at the chest, pushing him forward as the body dashed forward, hitting Chross' wheelchair, making it turn to the right, dazing the elder Chem-Baron.
As Heugh's body was then pushed aside, the hooded figure ducked then Buron tried firing, then swerved the fiery blade towards Buron, letting out a fiery wave of magenta energy that hit Buron, searing through his gunwiel arm when he tried blocking it, making him scream in pain. The hooded figure swerved the fiery blade one more time, unleashing another energy wave, that hit Buron's body, before the hooded one stabbed the henchman's upper chest, close to the throat with the fiery blade, making him collapse.
The hooded figure took a breather before she then extended her right, human hand, lowering the hood, revealing a short, black hair, some of it strapped into a smaller bun. Then she turned around, revealing her medium-brown skinned, battle tested face, whom was now staring at the witnessing Chem-Baron, whom backed away a bit, but still regained some composure.
"I'm to say my last words, I suppose?", Chross asked, a visible tinge of anger on his tone.
"Soon enough.", Sevika answered. "Was hoping we could talk."
"You could've scheduled, for that...", Chross retorted, coldly.
"My business is just you, and no one else.", Sevika replied, walking towards Chross' wheelchair and then circling to get it's handles, driving him deep into the room, before pushing Heugh's corpse out of the door's way and closing the door. She then walked towards the chair where Nero was, pushing him out, making his lifeless body collapse to the floor.
Chross glanced at the corpse, behind his small glasses. "Should've known there was more to it...", he shrugged, his sight glancing at Nero's body. "What Silco had him do."
"The pins, you mean?", Sevika sat down on the chair, noticing Chross' stone-walled, but disliking face, staring back at her. "Really, Chross, the man was virtually *forged* in betrayal and you think he'd leave his back open to anyone? Even more a guy versed in backroom deals and spying?"
"I only wonder how'd you and him knew poor Nero was aware of the hideouts...", Chross noted, coldly.
"Your favorite hitman, some would say the go-to.", Sevika shrugged, lighting up a cigarette. Chross noticed the lighter, golden with a 'F' letter on it. It belonged to someone he was acquainted with a short time ago. "That and a visit of his to a brothel. Not hard figuring out how to catch your best piece, then."
"Silco did have a small affinity for chess...", Chross commented. "Well, your achievement. Enjoy it. Only I find it rather insane or stupid, maybe *both*, that you'd try a takeover while the enforcers flood Zaun like never before."
"Takeover?", Sevika shrugged, then shook her head. "I'm here to offer partnership."
"Not a good start.", Chross took glances at both Buron and Nero's bodies.
"I've your attention, haven't I?", Sevika asked, drawing out a puff. "As you said, the enforcers are flooding Zaun, like they never had. There'll be the brave ones who'll fight back, that's true, but those smart enough know the time to hole up. And those even smarter offer protection and shelter to those wise enough to take it."
"You say that as if you're expecting Zaun to fall...", Chross replied.
"If it won't to the enforcers, it'll be to itself.", Sevika replied. "Silco was the one thing keeping us tied. And, as much headstrong as we are to dislike having to count on someone else...", she then shrugged at Chross, giving the hint.
"My ears or age must be misleading me.", Chross said, not believing it. "The so-feared Sevika, whom dislikes showing signs of weakness, admitting she *needs** my help? Me and the Hush Company?"
"I could use it, yes.", Sevika nodded, a second later.
"Your ego can take such hits as it can give them, it seems...", Chross' eyebrows raised, in sarcasm. "How rare. And suspiciously surprising."
"You know my position regarding weakness, Chross. But, as even *I* learned a bit while ago...", Sevika then flashed the golden lighter. "Pride can be a killer, too."
Chross nodded for a bit. "Renni told me.", he pointed at the lighter, a second later. "A good feign. Didn't know you had it in you."
"That was for Silco.", Sevika said. "As much of a worm Finn was, he *still* had a valid point. Silco was slipping up..."
"Why me, Sevika?", Chross asked, a couple of seconds later. "The others seem to have more resources."
"Material ones.", Sevika replied. "The Slickjaws fell apart when that stupid golden chin did. Smeech? I wouldn't trust him with buying a car. Margot will just go with the flow. And Renni, you know why.", she saw Chross nod to that. "Information, on the other hand? Still more value than body-altering chemicals or magic crystals."
"Silco prepared you well...", Chross said, noticing Sevika glance at him, shrugging. "Please, Sevika, we *always* figured it'd be you, the next in line. I did see Jinx in action. My men, really.", he shrugged. "She just has no patience or interest in being a boss, your 'throne' is safe.", a couple of seconds of dead air did fill the room. "There is still the second question to this... partnership, though."
"Why would you.", Sevika concluded.
"Renni, Margot and Smeech, as I said, have more resources.", Chross nodded. "Logic."
"Those three would run themselves dry, trying to hold the enforcers, save their businesses...", Sevika said. "To the point they'd be forced into an agreement. And, logically, someone would end up being thrown to the wolves. Would you take that chance?", Sevika took another puff.
"And the other option is the one whom *already* did that, with Vander?", Chross almost chuckled. "Rich."
"Besides, Chross, I know you want at least another group, taking face, when the dust settles.", Sevika continued, unfazed. "You deal in informants and backroom deals, the last thing you want is you being *too* public. Especially with this chemical attack I've heard about."
"I suppose that's also why you came to me, offering this... bloody olive branch.", Chross glanced at the bodies, again. "You think I might know a thing or two about it."
"Because of your past life? The so-feared Intelligencers?", Sevika shrugged, then let out a small chuckle as Chross expression remained cold. "That was the deciding factor for your business, wasn't it? Because, no matter how much Chem-tech or Hextech you have... Power, the real thing? Still comes from whom knows the most, doesn't it?"
"In a way...", Chross answered. "Weapons come and go, but the rules of war and power remain quite the same.", some more time of silence passed. "I don't know much about the attack. Yet. But I can guess the one possibly behind it. And she is dangerous enough."
"Only proves I came to the right person.", Sevika let out a smug smirk, taking another puff, as she looked aside.
"Could be, Sevika. Of course, if that will *still* be your name...", Chross said, making Sevika remove her smirk, take the cigarette off her mouth, staring deadly serious at him. "You've some secrets of mine, I've some of yours.", he spoke, bluntly. "But I can respect limits, and I know my limitations. Now, if you will, on your end..."
Sevika kept staring at the elder Chem-Baron, for a while, eyes reading through each other's expressions. "Your motivation is admirable, I'll give you that.", Chross continued. "Your motives, however...",
"You already have the answer, don't you?", Sevika asked, coldly, a second later.
"I'm old enough. Bed or chair makes little difference, now.", Chross stated as Sevika slowly got on her feet. "Renni and Smeech, however...", he raised his tone, giving pause to what he knew Sevika would do. "...clearly, they don't know who they're really fighting."
Chross then retracted his feet from the footrest, supported both his hands against the armrests and did rise from the wheelchair, to Sevika's surprise. "But you do.", he stared at her for a moment. "It had better be enough."
He then extended his right hand towards her.