Sevika carried my trembling form for what felt like days. The sounds of hissing steam and dripping chemicals eventually subsided. Even the constant ticking of cogs had stopped when we reached the surface. Now it was the sounds I hadn't realized I missed.

Wind, blowing gently by my ears. Waves washing up on the rocks nearby, as Sevika carried me along the river, to the abandoned cannery.

Long ago, this building would take the fresh catch of the day, and package it for everyone to enjoy, and ship it across the globe. Sadly, the increasing number of chemicals bubbling up from the newly made underwater fissures made any fish caught near Piltover a health hazard.

Eventually, fishing boats just went to Bilgewater. Better prospects.

Three hard knocks drew me from my musing. Yes, I was shaking, but at least my mind was steady.

"Open up!" Sevika shouted.

"And who might this young woman be, Elias?" slid Silco's rasped voice. "Simply your transportation, or is she your... 'emotional support'?"

"S-silc-co." I tried, but my throat was seizing.

"He had me carry him here. I'll wait outside, just help him and be done with it!" Sevika shouted.

"Very well..." Silco trailed, before the sound of grinding metal could be heard. "Set him on the gurney, then five steps back."

I felt damp cloth on my neck as I was set down. After Sevika's hands left my person, I felt more alone then ever before. I knew if I could open my eyes, I could turn my head and see her.

But sadly, I couldn't open my eyes, let alone turn my head.

I could only shake as my body was wracked by another battery of micro-seizures. Pins and needles swarmed my entire being as Silco carted me away.

"I'm so glad you decided to take me up on my offer, Doctor." Silco said, as I felt the gurney going down a series of steps. "Once the people of the Lanes see what Shimmer can do for you, it'll only be a matter of time before everyone comes knocking."

Eventually the gurney came to a stop, in a cold room that smelled of damp air. Like a freshly drained fish tank.

"I believe you've met. Doctor, please tend to your associate." Silco said, before a voice I never thought I'd hear came to my ears.

"Ah, Dr. Mor, it has been some time."

I remember the first time I'd heard his voice, I was a freshman at the academy, and this senior was running about because a burner had caught his sleeve on fire. I called him what everyone called him from then on. What he called himself, as a way of owning it.

"S-sin-" I tried to say, before a breather mask covered my face.

"Deep breath." He said. I knew then, that this was the moment. There was no going back. I said a prayer in my mind and inhaled a sweet tasting air.

My lungs were on fire.

My eyes shot open as the fire went from lungs, to heart, to veins. The pain felt like years were being burned from my life, but it was only a moment of exposure.

What would have been an exhale, was a scream as I launched from my gurney. I looked about for another moment.

We were under sea-level, if the massive aquatic observatory meant anything. Then I saw Silco, standing between me and it. He was smiling, but it never reached his eye.

After breathing regular air for a while, I noticed something.

No shaking. Not even a twitch! And my mind was racing, faster than I ever thought possible. I looked down at steady hands for the first time in years. Surgery ready hands.

I didn't stop the tears as they streamed from my eyes.

"How do you feel?" Silco asked. I walked towards him, finding the adjustment to be a welcome inconvenience. Once I got within arms reach, I embraced him.

"You gave me back my body, Silco..." I began, before pulling back. "How else can I possibly feel?"

He smiled, this time, it was genuine.

"it is only a temporary remedy." Began my old colleague. I turned to see him holding a box filled with vials. Said vials were filled with glowing purple fluid. "One puff every morning, noon, and evening."

I accepted the small box.

"I don't recommend missing a dose." He said.

"Thank you, Singed." I said, using the nickname from better times. He let out a wry smirk. As if he knew something I didn't.

"I can only imagine how Vander will react when he finds out you no longer need to abide by your agreement." Silco said. "You may be pressed for work in the coming days, Doctor."

I pondered for a moment, before responding.

"What about we make a deal? Just like I had for Vander, but with this... 'Shimmer' as payment?" I asked. Silco stroked his chin for a moment, before nodding.

"Very well, service for product. However," He held up a finger. "I know you have experience with surgery and prosthesis. You may need to perform some experiments while you are in my employ, is that a deal-breaker?" I found myself grinning. A chance to perform surgery again? Better than I could ever hope for!

Gone now, were the days of triage! Of writing down instructions, of filling pills and hoping for the best!

I took Silco's now extended hand, and shook.

"It's a deal!" I said, before Silco began to escort me out.

Up the stairs, we glided. I took every steady step as a sign that my new life here was officially the right choice!


Oh, it feels good to be back in surgical scrubs!

I was performing a tangential excision, removing necrotic burn tissue in layers, until I reached healthy tissue.

It didn't take long for word to get out, Dr. Mor was fixing people better than ever!

Amputations? Paired with prosthetics.

Chemical burns? Surgical removal of effected skin.

Internal damage from Enforcers? I'll get in there and fix you right up!

Hell, I'd been in so many people over the past week, I lost count!

I followed my regimen, and in fact had another dose due after I closed this kid up.

Once I had finished, I informed the boy's family that he should be good to go in about two weeks, and until then he had to stay away from anything strenuous, and to keep taking antibiotics.

After seeing the family out, I went into my office, opened my locked drawer, and began to assemble the apparatus. It was a little tedious, but I figure I'd get used to it eventually.

Then, once it was ready... I hesitated again. Sure, it feels great to be normal again but... The burning feeling I get is always cause for pause.

It was like taking a drag from a cigarette that was spiked with ghost peppers.

Then that fire leaves my lungs and flows through my veins. I had to force my hands to let go of the inhaler, to prevent me from crushing it. A moment after it clattered to my desk, my hands clenched in tight balls of heat.

Five seconds. That whole ordeal was five seconds.

But for now, I feel good. I feel normal.


If you told me that Vi and the gang would drop by, asking to lie low for a while, I'd say something along the lines of being an impartial observer, bla bla bla.

But the puppy dog eyes from Powder shut me up. I just couldn't say no to them. So, i had them stay at my apartment, making sure to hide my stashes of Shimmer. Purple lights don't stand out in a place where glowing chemical lights were commonplace.

Later that day, I had closed the clinic for the night. Midnight is the cutoff for me. I turned and was met with the masked face of an enforcer, but his eyes were showing. He was flanked at either side by two fully masked enforcers. The Head Enforcer pushed me into my door.

"We're looking for four Sump rats. We'll be taking a look inside." He sneered, pointing past my head.

"This is a Surgical Center sir, not a Bed n' Breakfast." I said, doing my best not to panic. I had patients staying overnight, nothing serious but I didn't want rumors going around that my clinic wasn't safe.

"We're Enforcers. We go where we want, and take any criminals we find. If you're hiding them-" He began.

The leader leaned close to me, punching a baton into my stomach. The message was clear.

I was about to step aside and unlock the door when I heard a voice.

"There a problem here?" Shouted the woman I always love to see. At her side was... "Crowd" Doesn't match the number of people, and "Mob" Just didn't feel right...

A Riot of people had gathered in the streets, surrounding us. The Enforcers had been searching all day today, and pissing off every man, woman, and child in the lanes. Each of the people here had some form of weapon. Be it a simple shiv, or an honest-to-god forged sword.

The head Enforcer waved his baton about at the crowd.

"Disperse, NOW!" He barked.

"If you and your men want to go home to your families, you will disperse. You forgot the unspoken rule of Piltover." I spoke calmly. The lead Enforcer turned to me. "You're in The Lanes. One thousand feet below ground. Tossing your bodies in an alley, is technically a proper burial."

The masked Enforcers looked at each other, their movements unsteady. Afraid.

The leader leaned close to me, pressing his baton deeper into my stomach.

"We'll be back for you." He growled. I met his glare with my own.

"The Lanes will eat you alive." I responded. Then, I got a blow to the face for my troubles.

I tasted copper, and felt something loose in my mouth. I spat it out, a tooth. Great.

As the enforcers slunk into the shadows, the crowd cheered. What did they have to celebrate? I wondered.

Now in the eyes of Piltover I was a rabble rouser, an organizer, a threat.

They will be back, and in greater numbers.

But that will be later, for now the people seem happy. Sevika certainly did, she was grinning ear to ear.

I let myself smile. Most people say alcohol makes other people look more attractive to you. Looking at Sevika, and her grin... I can tell you now, it's wrong. Some people just look great no matter what you do.

Sevika walked me home, after I thanked the people of the Lanes, and reassured them the clinic was gonna stay open as long as I drew breath.

As I got to the door, I heard voices. The kids were still up at this time of night?

"We've got to fight back!" I heard Vi declare. Her voice full of the same vim and vigor the people of The Lanes had.

"Yeah! We took on those enforcers with just the four of us, imagine what the whole of the Lanes would do!" Powder said. I had heard enough.

I opened the door, and made a point of making my entrance heard.

"I'm home!" I hollered, hanging up my keys and coat. I could hear the tell-tale signs of rapid movements. The pitter patter of Powder's feet as she rushed to the top of the stairs to distract me while her siblings hide their treasures or weapons.

"Hey, Doc! You're early..." She tried. I couldn't fight the smirk as i responded.

"It's midnight, Powder." I deadpanned. I began to climb the stairs. Powder scrambled down halfway, and spread her arms.

"H-how about Vi and I make you some food??" Powder asked nervously. I smiled inwardly. Then I started to feel the damn Tremor again.

"I think I'm just gonna take my medicine and go to bed." I lowered my voice to a whisper; "Vi is a terrible cook." Powder giggled and climbed back up the stairs.

"G'night doc!" She said before closing the guestroom door.

More hushed whispers, none of which I could discern. Except for one word.

"Doc" was kinda impossible to miss.

I settled in for the night, thinking the same old lie.

I'm ready for tomorrow.


Author's Note;

Okay, here it is. Part two. And as promised, a little slower tempo than last chapter.

Shimmer is now in play, and Piltoverhas a new Person Of Interest, ladies and gentlemen. Furthermore, the kids are snooping around his home. Are they looking to steal? Are they trying to figure out if Elias has a deal with the enforcers like Vander? Or is Elias simply being paranoid? Tune in next time!

~ Redd