I was once respected. The cutting edge of medical advancement in Piltover. One of my old colleagues would often help with the creation of medicines. Unfortunately, his funding dried up and he was... For lack of a better word, 'expelled' from Piltover.
It was for this reason, I went to the Undercity. I had been developing a shake, in my hands. Nerve damage, most likely. Preventing me from performing life-saving surgeries and, on my worse days, I couldn't even sign my name.
Nothing I tried would help. Morphine, useless and addictive. Primidone didn't even help. And that's a seizure medicine! Only...
Only alcohol, sparingly taken, would reduce the shaking to the point where I could function. Even then, it was only consults and writing prescriptions. No surgeries.
Until, one day, Councilor Hoskel's grandson needed a transplant. His liver was failing. I was the only one available and I was by my own hand, drunk.
The surgery went...
It was perfect. No problems occurred, and the boy made a full recovery.
But, a nurse reported me the next day, leading me to lose all credibility. Everything was stripped from me. How I managed to avoid jail time is still a mystery to me to this day.
And so, here I was. Crossing a bridge. Or, at least, trying to.
I saw smoke, illuminated by the red and pink lights of flares. I heard screams, some cutting out due to gunshots.
I didn't even realize I was running until I was kneeling over a young man, coughing up blood. There was nothing I could do for him, he was gone the moment I put my shaking hands on him.
I took a long draw from my flask, the burn and heat of whiskey ran down into my lungs. I ran, coughing, until I reached a young woman. She was clutching her face, with long rivers of blood pouring between her fingers.
She drew back at my approach. I held up my hands, showing I was unarmed.
"It's alright, I'm a doctor." I reassured. She loosened her shoulders, but only a little, she was still tense, ready to strike if I seemed treacherous.
"Let me see." I said, moving slowly. She hesitated, only to put her hand down.
She had a large wound, running over her left eye. It would scar, and she'd lose the eye, no doubt.
I drew a gauze pad from my medical bag I kept on me at all times. You never know when an accident will happen. I spread triple antibiotic on it, before handing it to her.
"Apply pressure, then get to a treatment center. You'll lose the eye, but you'll live." I instructed, before moving back into the smoke.
I felt the tell tale burn of tear gas in my eyes, but I pressed on.
I went, from corpse to corpse, trying my best to help any still breathing. Sometimes they'd be alive. Sometimes I could help them.
I'm not ashamed to say I couldn't help everyone. It's just the way the world is sometimes.
I'd almost given up hope, when I saw them. A large, muscular man, carrying two little girls. He was going over the bridge into the undercity. I ran as hard as I could.
"Hey!" I shouted, only to falter as I was glared down by the man. I gathered my wits. "Do you know if there are any more injured? I'm a doctor." I explained.
"A topside doctor" he grunted. "Get out of here. We'll treat our own."
"It's okay, Vander. He's helping us out." came a voice. I looked, to see it was the woman missing an eye from earlier!
This man, now named 'Vander' grunted again.
"We moved our wounded off the bridge. You can take a look at them there." He said, before resuming his walk towards the Undercity. I followed, but kept a respectable 20 foot distance.
The people I treated that day, I did for free. After all, I was sipping from a flask between patients. Didn't want these people to get hurt worse than they were already.
But after two whole days of triage, gauze, and stitches... It was done. These people would carry these wounds for the rest of their lives. But I made sure they would be as comfortable as possible, dealing with them.
My actions earned me an audience with... I suppose you could call him a 'leader', he was called The Hound of The Underground. Vander.
He was surprised to see me still around, and asked me what I wanted.
"Just a place to treat patients, and try to find a cure for my own ailment." I explained, at his puzzled look, I lifted my hands that were violently trembling. The alcohol in my system wasn't enough to counter it, I'd need another dose soon.
"The only thing that reduces the shakes is alcohol, but only in certain amounts. I may need to find a place to regularly purchase it from. Do you know of such a place?" I asked. He smirked before puffing on his pipe.
"I own a pub, it's called 'The Last Drop'. If you keep helping people in the undercity, I'll keep giving you drinks. Okay?" He held out his pipe. I gently took it, before taking a long draw from it. It had a bitter taste, but it was better than the smells of the chemicals in the air, and of the blood still lingering in my nose from the amputations.
The next four years were a blur. Some things stick out more than others. I had an on again, off again, thing with a woman named Sevika. (not getting into it right now, I'll tell you later.)
I remember one of the girls from the bridge, Vi. She kept getting into fights, both with other kids and with adults. Poor kid came to me when she didn't want Vander to see her all messed up.
I set her nose, dressed her cuts. Even made sure her eye wouldn't swell closed. Last thing I did was hand her two little pills. An antibiotic, and an aspirin.
"Take these two, then come back in the morning." I said, before turning back my stores, making sure everything was organized.
"Why are you still helping us?" Vi asked me. I stood stock still for a while, mulling over what I should share. If Vi told everyone about my condition, no more helping people, which means no more alcohol, which means the shaking gets worse.
"Because Piltover thought they didn't need my help anymore. So, I figured I'd help you guys." I said, turning to look at her.
She gave me some side eye, but eventually she headed home.
Oh, I remember Powder too! She always came over to tinker with her gadgets whenever Milo started ragging on her.
I'd give her little chemistry lessons, things that burn, things that go 'poof'. I didn't want to risk my office by telling her explosive compounds yet.
Never met Milo, or his brother Claggor until I'd been around for a year. But from what I heard before then, Milo has a chip on his shoulder, and Claggor seems to be the most responsible of the four. They lived up to my expectations.
I remember treating Vander for a nasty cut near his wrist. He never told me how he got it, but I had an inkling of where.
I'd treated more than enough dock workers to know what a wound you get river water in looks like. The discoloration due to the chemicals and lack of bacterial infection were both a dead give away.
Whenever I felt my flasks, (yes, I got more over time) getting lighter, I'd swing by The Last Drop. I'd have a couple little candies for the girls each time I did. Jawbreaker for Vi, pop rocks for Powder.
Then, came an explosion. I'd been used to the sounds of the Undercity, the worst sounds were when a mine shaft would collapse. But the unmistakable 'boom' of an explosion? That was rare. I prepared my office to receive a flood of people, but it never came. After an hour or so, I got curious, and I poked my head out of one of my few windows. Imagine my surprise when I saw Vi, Powder, and Milo and Claggor.
They had bruises, scrapes, and cuts. Powder seemed better off than the rest. Smart kid probably slipped away from the fighting. I waved them in and put away my surgical tools. I'd managed to down a mouthful of whiskey before they opened the door.
"Take a seat." I said, gesturing to the various single sized beds. "Is this from a fight, or that big 'boom' I heard?"
Milo flinched, But everyone else stayed loose.
"A little of both." Vi said. I placed a cotton ball soaked in isopropyl alcohol to a scrape on her head. She only flinched a little.
"Should I tell Vander, or do you want to tell him yourselves?" I asked. Vi's gaze bored into mine. "Got it, no Vander."
After treating Vi and rewrapping her hands, I moved to Claggor. He had a black eye and a couple other bruises. A quick application of an ice pack would set him right.
"Thank you." Claggor said. Those words were rarely spoken to me up Top. Most Topside people think that the money they give is thanks enough.
I smiled, before turning to Milo. He was glaring at Powder.
"It's her fault." He said. I saw Powder shrink in a little. "She jinxed the job-ow!" I interruptingly pressed on a bruise.
"Did she cause the fight?" I asked.
"No." He began "But-"
"Then I don't need to hear it." I interrupted again. Wrapping Milo in a few gauze strips, holding tiny ice packs in place.
"If a job doesn't go well, never talk about it." I held up a finger in front of Milo's face. "It endangers not only you, but anyone you tell. As far as you should be concerned, nothing happened, except that you got in a fight."
I turned to Powder. I noticed a couple small scrapes on her hands, and elbows. As I began to gently clean them, she spoke in a voice that only a mouse (and I) could hear.
"Mouser didn't work." She whispered. I paused for a moment.
"What chemical compound did you use?" I asked, looking for additional scrapes.
"Some spark dust, and a little blast jelly." She muttered.
"Was it assembled in a hurry?" I asked, cleaning a small cut on her arm I found.
"Yes." She admitted. Once I was done, I stood and moved to my chemical station.
"I'm giving each of you an Ibuprofen, and a low level immuno-booster. You smell like you used a sewage pipe, and I don't want you kids getting infections." I took out eight little pills, and handed them two each. I then handed powder a small lump, tightly wrapped.
"Smother this in Blasting jelly, and suspend it in the gadget. Use a blasting cap for ignition, and this baby will be better than a frag grenade." I whispered to her. "Take your time when you make these outside your workshop. Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast." I began to stand. "Oh, and... Please don't tell Vander I gave you explosives." I pleaded. Powder smiled and gave a mock salute. I grinned before saluting back, and addressed the room.
"I'll walk you to The Last Drop." I said. Vi scoffed.
"We won't need an escort." She began.
"But I need a drink." I jokingly said, opening the door.
I managed to fit in pretty well with Undercity fashion on my side. Gone were the days of finer silks and sterile scrubs. Now are the times of patchwork aprons, of my gloves being the only thing I can sterilize.
The kids stayed right behind me. As if I were a bulwark, upon which Vander's fury would break.
When we got to The Last Drop, I made a beeline for the bar. I had to make several dodges to avoid being doused in cheap beer and smacked in the face with hot wings.
I finally sat at a stool that was always open. My stool. I rested my hands on the bar, and tapped twice.
A double pour of bourbon slid into my hand immediately. I raised it in thanks, and took a hearty swig.
"What happened to the kids?" Vander asked. I glanced over, to see both Vi and Powder keeping just within earshot.
"They didn't tell me any specifics. All I know is there was a fight, and they came to me afterwards." I replied and began lifting my glass again, only for Vander's hand to put it back down on the bar.
"That's all you know?" He pressed, looking at me suspiciously.
"It was all I needed to know, and Vi wanted you to be the first one to know the details." I stated, before Vander lifted his hand, and I downed the rest of the glass. "I'll need three more bottles." I said, turning to discreetly wave Vi and Powder away.
"Three?! I gave you two a day ago!" He exclaimed.
"I had to use one as a weapon to take out a mugger on my way back to the office. Figure I need an extra now, in case I need to do that again." I lied. Both bottles were empty now, resting neatly in the alley by my office.
I'm building a resistance to the treatment. Higher doses would be required. Eventually, I won't even be able to function with the level of alcohol in my blood. I needed to find another way, and fast.
I bid Vander adieu, and stalked back to my office with the bottles tucked away. As I walked, I bumped into someone. Someone I vaguely remember fixing a while ago. Years ago.
"Ah, Doctor Elias Mor." He said, his sole good eye piercing through any hope of hiding my secrets.
"Silco." I began. "Your eye looks... Better than I'd predicted. I'd thought with the number of bacteria and chemicals, you'd have lost it by now. What changed?" I asked. And it was true.
Four years since he was on my slab. Four long years and that eye... It's still there. I'd thought he'd lose it in four months, yet here it is. Staring me in the face.
"I found someone who specializes in... Unconventional medicines." He replied. "In fact, it's the reason I came here, to tell you."
"Tell me what?" I asked, truly curious. Oh, don't give me that. You would be too, if you were in my situation.
"This medicine, taken in small doses, will give you function." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You helped me once, and for that... I owe you."
He took a step back now, looking me up and down. He held out a hand, in it was a small slip of paper.
"This is where you can get it... Do yourself a favor." He finished, slinking into the shadows the moment I had my hand on it.
I held it gently, and pondered my options.
I knew the alcohol was giving diminishing returns... But a mystery drug? That seemed a little too good to be true. But, whatever it is, if it kept Silco's eye... Maybe it could rid me of my ailment altogether!
When I got to my office, I set the bottles and paper on my table. I pulled up a chair, and stared at them. On one hand, the danger of this unknown drug could render me either an addict or a corpse. On the other hand, I could be rid of this infernal shake and still be able to think clearly! Wait...
Think clearly... I was still under the effects of alcohol! I couldn't make a decision like this! I needed to let it pass through my system. And there's only one person I trusted to help me.
I stood, grabbed the paper, and locked up. I wasn't going to be back here for a while, and I didn't want some dope head getting in.
As I walked through the lively streets of the Lanes, I began to feel the micro tremors get stronger. I moved to a familiar back alley, and fumbled for a key that hadn't been used in months. I could only hope the locks weren't different.
For once, luck was on my side. However, my body wasn't. Imagine trying to put a key in a lock while your hands are moving non stop. I tried no less than five times, before I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Run out of booze?" Came the gruff voice I'd admittedly missed. I shook my already shaking head.
"N-need to go w-without it for a b-bit." I stuttered.
"Why?" The gruff voice asked, their grip becoming gentle.
I held up the paper.
"N-need a clear m-mind, to m-make a decision." I said.
Another hand moved to the door, and inserted a key before turning it.
"Missed you."
"I m-missed you t-too, Sevika." I admitted, before following the towering woman of muscle in. We walked into the main room, conquered by an older couch. Lotta good memories of that couch. She pulled a chair from her dining room, and set it across from the couch.
She sat, lighting up a cigarette. I laid on the couch, before releasing the tension in my muscles. The shaking became more violent.
"P-paper... Has... M-medicine..." I tried to say. "D-don't know if-f it'll work or n-not."
My eyes were shaking in their sockets. I could barely see Sevika. One hand gently took the paper from my hands, the other was placed gently on my cheek.
She glanced at the paper, and back to me. Her fingers moved in small smooth circles.
"This feels... Desperate, Elias." She gently spoke. "Are you sure? Because if this new drug doesn't work, we'll be back to square one..."
I placed a shaking hand on hers, and pressed her hand to my face. Letting me feel her warmth. Every time I'm with her... Nothing feels impossible. I give her space when she asks for it, but... Well, I miss her.
She must have set the paper down, because she placed her other hand on my other cheek, and pulled me in for a kiss. (albeit a half shaking kiss, but a kiss nonetheless.)
Sevika. The one constant in the chaos of the Lanes. A woman who is so intimidating that asking her out almost felt like a hostage negotiation the first time.
"I-I don't w-want to l-l-live... Like this. I w-want to be n-normal ag-gain. B-be with y-you." I admitted. I know, it's a gamble. But... I'd do anything just to be able to live without this damn shaking. That, and to actually settle down with someone would be icing on the cake.
Sevika gently held my face, for what felt like days. She then pulled away, and grabbed her poncho.
"You won't make it to the docks like that alone. I'm taking you there." She said matter-of-factly, before scooping me up effortlessly. "You've lost weight." She inferred.
"Yup." I replied. One syllable was about all I could say right now. I wanted to tell her to just let me go myself. To solve the problem on my own. To not risk herself for me. But I couldn't.
I could only tremble, as she carried me from her warm dry apartment, out into the cold humidity of the Lanes.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Yeah, I know. It feels a little rushed. I'll slow it a little for the next chapter, ok?
In the meantime, I pose unto you, a question.
Will Elias' presence alter Arcane, or will he be just another piece of meat to be ground between the cogs of Progress?
Yeah, looking back, that's two questions... Oh well. Toodle-oo!
