"Precision. Domination. Sorcery. Resolve. And… something."

Precision. Ekko frowned at the notebook after rereading the section. It's like trying to translate from a language I've only heard to one I've only read.

"I can change what the runes do with position, frequency, interaction, emphasis, materials, and even intention. But should I create the devices for drawing its power first? I'd at least be working in a familiar field, but it could be pointless if I don't figure out this arcane stuff."

Ekko kept reading and grew more frustrated. "No wonder only two people have been able to do this. I'll give it a try with the verifier soon."

"Has Jinx got you talking to imaginary people too?" Scar asked as he entered.

He shook his head. "Can't lay that at her feet. I've talked to myself for years when I'm stuck."

"Would other problems help?" Scar asked.

Ekko scoffed and glanced at the hexgem in the cylindrical container he had made. He closed it, stood, stretched, and waited for his number one to give him different headaches.

Domination. "Alisha is doing well. Neil too, considering. Eve–she took some medicinal shimmer and is collecting information."

Ekko pinched the bridge of his nose. "Vasili?"

"No update yet. Eve said she had a good excuse to go to the hospital. Topside may go harsher on him after Stillwater."

"We'll get him out soon."

Scar took a breath. "That leads to a gripe. We didn't have to break the paint out, but we almost lost people. For our enemy's daughter's sister while one of our own is grievously wounded in Piltie custody."

"We did vote on it."

"After you came back from Topside promising the world with the shiny rock. How Jinx seemed better and improving. How they'd help us win."

Ekko took a step closer to his oldest comrade. "You think I was lying?"

Scar kept his ground and matched his leader's gaze. "I think you believed what you wanted to. You're compelled to show her and us that you can rescue and fix people so far gone that we've put them on the mural."

Ekko forced himself to relax the fist he was making. "I'm doing this for us. I don't expect there'll be statues of me when I'm gone. This is not for me."

"You sound more like a martyr than you think," Scar asserted.

Ekko turned around and grabbed the container and the verifier. "If you're done, I'll be in the tunnel entrance. You have a shift at Oswald Asylum to get to, right?"

Scar moved as if to grab his arm, but held himself back. "Later."

Sorcery. It had been a long time since Ekko flew as fast in the hideout as he did to the gate. At least he isn't talking about killing her anymore. And Jinx WILL be better if Vi makes it. I'm not trying to be responsible for her.

He helped two Firelights rotate the weighty door aside. Saying I put on too much. That I am deluding myself about sacrificing for others.

Ekko almost stomped into the path and signaled for them to close behind him. And what if I gave up? Where would we all be then?

The flare flicked to life moments before the door closed. Running a hand through his locks, he repeated the relevant lines from the notebook. He put the hexgem into the verifier he had modified and switched–

"Ekko! Ekko!"

He felt terrible. Not since the training accident did he physically hurt so much. His eyes slowly refocused on the person holding the flare. "Vi?"

A familiar snort came from the side. "See? You're acting more like Jinx by the minute."

Ekko's brain caught up. "Eve. Do me a favor and knock Scar's lights out."

She sighed in relief and checked her leader's neck and head. "Even if I were to, he wouldn't have as big of a bump on his head as you do."

"Not as thick a skull as some claim then," Ekko said while looking at Scar. With Eve's help he got back up and tried to prepare himself for the next difficult talk.

Resolve. After half a pill of painkillers and half a drop of medicinal shimmer, Ekko felt ready.

Eve cleared her throat. "Nothing on the sisters or captain yet. Eyes are still on the rendezvous point."

Nods were the response. "Vasili is stable and he says he's not been harassed, but when they need more beds, he'll be out one way or another."

"If we get Caitlyn back, maybe she could remand him," Ekko reasoned.

His officers looked uncertain. "Also, a different hextech invention was destroyed and two of Jayce Tallis' assistants were killed in an explosion."

Ekko almost gasped and Scars eyes narrowed. "No idea of who?" the latter asked.

Her shoulders went up and down slightly. "A scout noticed Slickjaws crossing the bridge, but that could be a coincidence. Speaking of them, they are still searching for us. More than I thought they had and they're going about it fast. They're still easy to misdirect, but they'll find us just by trial and error if they have enough time."

A growl came from Scar. Ekko's hand traveled through his hair again, avoiding the already fading bruise. "The hexgem is still the gateway to victory. And the key to opening it is Jinx."

Eve bought a hand to her face while Scar got up in exasperation. "Why? What would we need her for?"

"Inspiration."

Flick open. Flick closed. Flick open. Flick closed.

"The old man is just being cautious. Once we show enough strength, Chross will come over and doting daddy Silco will be alone," Finn said to his peers.

Smeech and Margot looked at each other. The yordle went first. "The Piltie ex-pat is calculating, but I worry that his sums don't lead him to us. He might see it as better to inform Silco before your plan bears fruit." He took out an orange, tossed it in the air, changed his hands to blade, and peeled it before it came back down.

Margot nodded slowly. "I'm not a fan of paying more for Silco's dreams, but he's unforgiving of disloyalty. This is a high risk move."

Renni snorted or made the equivalent sound with her substituted nose. "There's a risk in following him to ruin too. As for Chross, well he gave us the information about where to find the lesser hextech partner and the innovation. He is keeping his options open, but once it's in our grasp, he'll join us saying he was just keeping Silco close to keep him unsuspecting."

Still frowning, Smeech turned to Finn. "When will that be?"

The lighter flicked open and closed again. "Soon. My best soldiers were sent. They're more than up for the task of subduing an infirmed wannabe Piltie and the magic rock he made with the Progress kid."

"How will we compel him to use it for us though? We can't keep a blade at his throat the entire time and expect successful results. A degree of consent is needed," Margot argued.

Renni shook her head. "We shouldn't need him to use it for us. We can just have him and the new tech as hostages and negotiate for them to help remove Silco, give us amnesty, keep enforcers out, and such."

Opening his mouth to speak, Smeech paused. His ears twitched. "Do you hear that?"

The chembarons listened and looked at its direction of the source. There was a growing dark shape from the side. And then hell broke loose.

A heavy hail of bullets sprayed through the glass and and between the iron. Margot got it the worst being the closest and unblocked. She was dead before she hit the ground.

Finn fared little better. He caught shots in the back and legs and went down, surprised he wasn't feeling pain.

Renni's drugs and seating gave her an advantage. She was able to quickly get to the ground with only a shot in her arm.

Smeech disappeared. Finn blinked in confusion at that.

The torrent of fire continued for a while then the elevator dinged. A small squad of fully armed and armored enforcers entered the conference room.

Renni raised her uninjured arm as she slowly rose into a kneeling position. "I surrender! Arrest me and–"

The nearest enforcer coldly aimed and discharged the rifle into her face.

Loyalty, huh? Finn almost laughed darkly as one enforcer checked on Margot to make sure she was deceased. They sounded like they were confused about Smeech's departure too, but Finn wasn't listening. Don't gloat too much, Silco. You'll be joining us soon enough. Maybe it will be this new sheriff; maybe you'll get double Chrossed; or maybe your demented daughter will get you, but you will die soon.

An enforcer made his way to Finn. Speak of Fiddlesticks. The new sheriff aimed his rifle at his head. "For Piltover," Sheriff Derek said simply.

Flick open. Flick closed. Then there was no more light.