EKKO

It wasn't hard finding a place to stash all the tied up, blindfolded and muzzled enforcers - they all ended up in the workshop, cleared of tools first and foremost to avoid any escape attempts - as it wasn't to make a simple stew for them. The real problem was *what to do* with them, now that the captivity was... over.

Ekko knew that, the moment they returned to Piltover, they'd readily blabbermouth about what happened. Eventually, there'd be some time before the topsiders themselves, led by the killer granny Camille herself, would take notice of these enforcers... extended silence. And killing was simply out of the question, even for these or worse scum Silco's henchmen or the Ironhands were - it'd definitely paint the Firelights as a target for termination, especially since they, in practice, had broken the agreement with that pompous Jayce fellow.

Ekko made his way to the workshop, a pot of stew in hand, seeing the Firelights finally starting to rebuild, especially trying to figure out how to rebuild the breached wall, even more as many of them didn't have that much skill for construction or architecture, let alone the materials needed, most of which were in the Undercity, most likely in turmoil of both the fights between the other enforcers and Silco's crumbled empire, even after the explosion-induced earthquake. Somehow, even with what Heimerdinger said, Ekko *still* couldn't shake off the feeling that Jinx, deep down and sure as heck no pun intended, had something to do with it.

But that'd have to wait. As any good leader would go - in particular his very inspiration, good old Vander - there was the whole rebuilding and reforming to do first, and Ekko planned to use every second available to it, Z-Drive granted or not. He could only hope that whatever Heimerdinger was doing would also keep the Steel Shadow off the Firelights back, for whatever while was worth it.

As Ekko entered the workshop, most of the enforcers, about twenty of them, were mostly sitting on the floor with their backs to one another as their hands were tied to the front. Scar was inside as well, on his feet and keeping watch, Ekko noticing some breathing on the Vastayan, indicating he *did* see a bit of action.

"They did try it, didn't they?", Ekko started.

"Three of them.", Scar answered. "They thought no one was looking."

"They always do...", Ekko rolled his eyes as he walked towards one of the pairs, this apparent skinnyfat type with a tanned skin and short hair, and then knelt before him and removed his mouth gag.

The enforcer, whom could now feel his mouth free, started breathing through his mouth in some small, but nonetheless angry, relief. "What's this, who the fuck's this?", he asked.

"Guess who.", Ekko answered, in full sarcasm.

Blood did heat up on the enforcer. "Why, you little trench worm.", he started. "Do you even know what you rats just did?"

"Sure do.", Ekko continued, in heavy tones of irony. "Some supper, even though you canheads don't deserve it. Now open up, unless you rather fancy the cold chow."

"Might be poisoned for all I know!", the enforcer spat back.

"Was tempting, I admit it.", Ekko blew back, some poison oozing out as well. "But I ain't in no mood for deadaches, right now. Now open it and take it, won't offer again."

The enforcer, after a second, did open his mouth as Ekko took a mouthful with the spoon and fed it to the enforcer, shoving it into his mouth. The enforcer grunted in clear and present disapproval of the taste, but was forced to swallow down as Ekko covered his mouth when the officer tried to spit it.

"Sweet Janna, you little shit, *what the hell was that*!?", the officer then let out a retch sound.

"Come now, topsider, that's-", Ekko said in a gentle tone that Scar had to make an effort and hold his laughter.

"That's OFFICER COL to you!", the enforcer interjected. "I'll make you remember it when I'm loose!"

"Well, *Officer Col, that's about our everyday sustenance down here in the Lanes!", Ekko blew back. "And we're still alive, ain't we? So I guess you Pilties can make it through too, despite your bellies being delicate and all."

Col snickered. "Yeah, go ahead, laugh it up, you rat punk.", he said. "Do it while you still can..."

"Oh, because 'they'll send a team for us' and all that, ain't it?", Ekko asked. "So unoriginal, we kinda figured."

"Might be us, alright.", Col nodded. "Or it might be the cult freaks out there, and then you'll be *really* in it..."

That new information made Ekko's face go all serious, as Scar stood straight as well.

"Cult freaks?", Ekko asked. "What you're on about?"

Col snickered again. "Of course you Fairy Tale land kids don't know...", he started. "We, whom come from the REAL world, have got these new things, we call them 'radios', they let you know what's actually going on out there."

"Tell me what you know, and I might consider not going full dental over that attitude.", Ekko warned, grabbing Col's cheeks.

"There's been some interesting people out there since the quake...", Col said, a second later. "Fanatics and escapees from the Dredge, it looks like, all serving their supposed god."

"The Dreadnought?", Scar stepped in. "Bullshit, they're more all bark and no bite, for all I know."

"You know him, then.", Col said. "Guess you're not that much out of fairy tales, then. Still, they're out there, doing wonders, hounding down *anyone* they bat an eye on. Even been engaging some of ours. Don't care if they're woman or children either. You picture how much fun they'll have around here when they find your little tree."

Ekko then punched Col's cheek before gagging his mouth again. "Shoulda done worse for that 'radio' mock. Just so you know, Pilt.", he said, before slapping the back of Col's head and then turning to Scar as both headed to the workshop door and then outside. "Gotta do some fact finding, see if it's true.", he said.

"We still need some time for some more boards.", Scar said.

"If he's telling truth, time's something I doubt we'll-", Ekko started.

"Ekko!", a voice called him in as a Firelight descended from the flying board he just borrowed, a scrawny gingerheaded boy named Arjune, sent off to check the topside for any activities above. "There's some major movement by the bridge, at least a trio of airships and a lot of enforcers. There's also a whole army on our side of the river, most the likes I never even saw before. I think something's gonna happen there."

"A whole army, likes you never saw?", Scar asked, and Arjune nodded, which prompted the Vastayan to stare at Ekko.

"Guess it's them.", Ekko concluded.

"And they're moving in on the Pilts...", Scar followed, nodding. "They must be out of their minds, they'd *never* make past the bridge, not with what topside has."

Ekko nodded, he came to remember the tales of what occurred the last time something like this happened, and even then it was a loss for the fissurefolk. And at that time it was one-sided.

That's when Ekko realized one thing - that certain things back then didn't exist at that time.

Shimmer.

Bombs out of butterflies.

And especially...

A realization of dread woke up on him, just like on that night. On the platform.

"I gotta get up there.", Ekko said.

"Get up there?", Scar asked. "It's not even our fight...", the Vastayan stopped himself, as he realized the stare on Ekko's eyes, also reading through Ekko's line of thought. "Jinx.", he said in dreadful realization before he then shook his head slightly. "But that's *too* crazy, even for..."

"Even if she ain't in on it, with the amount of enforcers, she wouldn't want to miss it.", Ekko shook his head. "I gotta find Vi and Caitlyn, warn them, if they don't know already.", he turned around to head to his office in the warehouse. "Keep an eye on things, down here."

"And the enforcers?", Scar asked.

Ekko turned around to Scar. "We keep'em a bit more...", he said, a couple of seconds later. "As Piltie or Silco as it looks like, we might need a bargaining chip."

Scar nodded and Ekko rushed back to his office to prepare himself once again, and it was just a couple of hours since he fought all those enforcers.

And it was so soon, maybe *too* soon for the... real test. Against her, if she was there.

But he had to take it, even more if what he feared would come to pass.

The final test of Ekko's edge was at hand.