"Doesn't fit their modus operandi though, does it? They are more fond of bludgeoning, bullets, grenades, and such means of 'keeping the peace'. Piltover's finest tends not to leave bloodied operating tables, dripping hoses, and decapitated chemists." Silco finished. He resumed around the lab/crime scene.

"So let's look at it from the opposite side. The doctor was working on Warwick, lost control, they fought, but the creature won," Sevika offered.

Silco shook his head. "No. There should be more of a blood trail between the table and this room, not to mention the chemicals Silco used for him that we see here. And there's the familiar bullet casings."

Silco's lieutenant ran her hands over the operating table. "Maybe a different subject was involved."

"After getting injured by Vander, the doctor decided to work on that enlarged rat? No, the simpler explanation seems to fit better." Silco walked back to the adjoining room and Sevika followed dutifully.

He is still controlling it. Maybe since Vander's body isn't here Silco is hoping he's still alive. But no, they took him away to finally rest somewhere away from the resurrectionists.

"He must have swore an unbreakable oath to never fight Pilotver again when he carried the sisters across the bridge. The triviality of death and revitalization does not release him."

"I don't see it as so spiritual. My conclusion is Jinx convinced Singed to save Vi, a fight happened after, and they won."

Silco sighed and took his flask out. "That happened, regardless of how much emotionality or significance is attached. And that means Vi…" Silco shook his head again. "Vi is now the perfect weapon Singed and I sought to make. And she will be aimed at us if not also our cause too."

Make him think of Jinx now? That could correct him or make him worse. When he got us back across the bridge, he had more hope than I'd seen for a long time.

"Jinx was fighting with us because you wanted her too. She was not passionate about an independent Zaun; I don't see her being devoted against it in some type of petty revenge. And Ekko, he will be the level headed one that will weaponize the hex gem, but keep the sisters from acting rashly. We should gleam more soon," Sevika said.'

Silco was about to drink but Sevika grabbed his wrist. "Slow down."

He glared in response, but put it away. "'Acting rashly.' The enforcers have returned to their old form. No love lost for the chembarons, but the new sheriff's overreaction is going to make the Council have to decide whether to rein them in or not. And if the chembarons most devoted followers act on their own, they will see their hands as forced. You, me, and Chross need to centralize and consolidate, but many and especially the younger ones will want me to prove I've not become Vander."

Haven't you, though? Not entirely–you still have plans and will, but you're probably acting as he would if he were separated from one of his kids.

"All our roads lead to the Firelights. We've pulled back the Slickjaws for defense. Maybe we can sell that as a gesture of de-escalation."

"I'll trust you for that. For now, I'll return to the Last Drop and damage control with Chross. I doubt they'll break a white flag, but don't let yourself get captured."

Sevika nearly smiled. "The latest enhancement should prevent that. If you want peace, prepare for war."

Silco's eyes softened. He took a sheet from one of the drawers and covered the doctor. He patted Sevika's good shoulder and left.

Sevika's path brought her to the scrapyard. The evidence of the battle was still there, but it could easily be missed by someone not paying attention. She took out two small cigarettes, lit one, and looked up. Her wait was short for the light of a hoverboard to appear and intensify from the roof of the nearby building.

Be here for a bit to see or hear for an ambush. Smart. The rider stayed high.

"S, I presume."

"Sevika," the filtered voice from the bat-masked large chirean.

She held out the other cigarette and even made a toss up gesture for him. He shook his head. Sevika shrugged. "More for me. Let's start small. Truth or truth. You go first."

S's ear twitched and he looked away for a moment, but then looked back at her. "Larger peace meeting later on neutral territory?"

THEY'RE the ones suing for peace? A trap? No, at least some of them want it to end. Sevika was more emotive than her leader, but years of card playing kept her from expressing much.

"We all have lost a lot and Topside is the real enemy. I will bring the proposal to my superior, likely with an endorsement. Not my question, but how about Babette's? Something appropriate about that."

S's filter made a sound that may have been a chuckle. He nodded.

Sevika smiled. "Tentatively. Two parts but connected. You have Captain Caitlyn, Vi, Jinx, and Warwick? Do any of them need medical aid? We can offer supplies or even a healer, if needed."

S scoffed at that, which Sevika half-expected. "Caitlyn for now. The sisters stay. No Warwick. Nothing needed for them."

For now? They're farther in negotiations with PIltover than we are? Leave it to the Firelights to move too fast to keep up. "No Warwick" sounded like he didn't know who I meant. Maybe I should have just said Vander. "You are planning on killing her?" Sevika asked in an easy ploy.

Shaking his head, S ignored the bait. "Results from meeting Topsider diplomats?"

No surprise there. Half of Zaun saw Silco take them on his tour. And all of it must be gossiping by now, at least those that haven't heard of the Tower Massacre. Hate to see those parasites become martyrs, but you play the hand you're dealt.

"Positive. Silco believed Heimerdinger and Shoola were all but swayed on independence. He would be setting up the necessary bribes and respectfully veiled threats for the other councilors, but some group has been as delicate as a shark swimming with a hemophiliac. Stillwater did not endear them to Zaunites."

S gave her nothing to work with. She exhaled a smoke ring. "The, whatsit, premium hexcrystal. Progress on making it a weapon?"

"Probably too early."

Frowning, Sevika took a drag. "That one is cagey, so I get another question. A truce through the peace meeting or shared news of its rejections? We'll withdraw from the pipes, leave suspected allies and informants alone, and you'll refrain from raids."

S descended down on that one. "Safe presence in the districts too."

Sevika shook her head. "I could offer that for Silco's and maybe the chembarons' soldiers, but not the general safety of your lost children."

"How would I communicate approval?"

"For us, a handshake. For our bosses' approval, let's keep to tradition." She walked over to a wall that had a discarded spray underneath it. "With street art. One." She shook and eeked out enough for a line down. "Meeting. If good, I'll draw a S–Silco not you–and you can draw the Zaun hourglass. Two." She shook more and after a couple tries made a faded 2. "Same for truce approval."

Gotta make this a little theatrical. She extended her enhanced arm out to him. Coming just above the ground, the Firelight officer appraised her a moment before taking and shaking her hand.

"Not a question, but an ask," Sevika added after they released their hands. She slowly reached into a pocket. S reflexively tensed until she pulled out a scrap of paper. "Give this to the Loose Cannon. It is nothing that should hurt her or make her want to come back or activate her as a sleeper agent or the like. Just calling in a favor."