Rise of the Reborn: An Edgerunner's Rise to Power
Chapter 3: Tunnel of Fun
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kid," Vander said as he left the bar's back room.
Vander was the first to come out, followed by Powder, who was now freshly dressed in a jacket similar to the jacket Vi wore in Arcane. David assumed it was Vi's jacket, with how loose it hung on Powder's body. She was also wearing shorts just as short as her in-game counterpart and had boots to finish her look.
Then, behind her walked the much taller Vi, who looked more like her in-game counterpart. Her long pink hair was drawn into a ponytail hanging off her shoulder and shaved on one side. She wore a loose black hoodie with a design for a band David had never seen, and the sleeves were cut off to show off her arms. Her dark blue jeans had ripped at the knee while she wore a pair of old high-top sneakers and had fresh white bandages wrapped around her fists.
"I don't mind," David replied.
"Oh!" Powder perked up once she saw the glass of blue liquid on the bar top. "Free blue!" she exclaimed, then grabbed the glass and chugged it. As soon as she was done, Vi smacked her on the back of the head, which caused the two girls to glare at each other.
Vander spoke up before the two could start arguing. "This here is my oldest, Vi. She'll be your guide to the break," Vander said while gesturing to Vi.
Vi placed her hands in her hoodie pockets and nodded to David. "Yo, I, uh, sorry about your mom," Vi spoke awkwardly. "She, uh, patched me up a few times, was always nice to me." She said sadly.
David just gave her nervousness a soft smile. "Thanks for agreeing to be my guide."
"Don't forget me!" Powder quickly said. "I'm going too! " she announced.
Vi let out a sigh and placed a hand on her head. "Pow-pow, you're not-" Vi started to say but stopped once Powder crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks. A clear sign of 'say no and I will cause a scene.' "Fine," Vi groaned with no other choice.
"Behave, you two," Vander said, crossing his arms. "Now, it's early, so you should have no problems heading there and back, as long as you don't look for them," he said while eying his two daughters.
Powder raised her hands. "Hey, I'm not the muscle-brained ape always starting fights." She stated while pointing at Vi.
"No, you're just the little brat who pisses people off, so I have to fight them." Vi fired back, shooting Powder the middle finger.
"Girls, behave yourselves," Vander ordered. The bickering went silent at his words, but they still glared at each other. "Now, get going before it gets any later. Remember, there and back, no other stops and no fights."
"Got it," Vi replied. She nodded to David as she started walking towards the door. David thanked Vander once more, and both he and Powder followed Vi.
~R~R~E~R~P~
The city of Zaun is broken up into three levels. The Sump is the lowest level, where the poorest and most desperate live. The Entresol level was Zaun's middle class. The highest level of Zaun is called the Promenade Level, reserved for the wealthiest of Zaun. It is the wealthiest level of Zaun, yet it exists on the same level as the lowest level of Piltover, and it was clear where the two cities met. David lived in the lower area of the Entresol level, the lower middle class compared to Earth's standards.
"The pipe we use is up here," Vi said as the trio walked through the lower Entresol level.
They had taken a lift down and could take another down to the Sump, but that would just announce their presence to everyone. Instead, Vi led them to a large pipe, tall and wide enough for Vi to easily walk through with her hands in the air or held out. But this pipe led downward. It was once a sewer pipe back when Zaun was united.
The current Piltover nobles would never acknowledge that Zaun and Piltover used to be one city called Zaun. That was until their greed led to a massive explosion that sunk part of the city decades before David was born. Part of Zaun sunk, and those that could afford it expanded the city upwards and called the new city Piltover once Zaun started getting too polluted.
"I love this part," Powder said with a grin as she nudged David's side.
David watched as Vi pulled on a thick metal chain that led down the pipe. After a few seconds of pulling, David watched as a metal slab sitting on caster wheels with a pair of handles was pulled up. "Alright, I'll go down first and make sure there isn't anyone waiting down there. Powder, go last and help David." Vi said.
"Got it, boss, now hurry up! I want to go already!" Powder whined.
Vi rolled her eyes at Powder. "Just keep a lookout. I'm heading down, " she said as she sat on the metal slab. Without hesitation, she rocked forward and rocketed down the pipe.
'Well, at least it looks safer than that cartel tunnel I used when I had to sneak back into the U.S.,' David thought as he watched Vi go.
"This baby launches you off once you hit the bottom. The trick is you have to start running when your foot hits the ground," Powder explained with a grin. A moment later, two loud thuds echoed up the pipe. "Alright, quick! Pull the chain up!"
David reached down and gripped the heavy metal chain as he was told, but he realized a problem on his first tug. 'Fuck, I really need to start working out.' He thought as he started pulling on the chain. Vi made it look easy, but every tug was a struggle, so much so that Powder swooped in to help him pull the chain up. Their combined efforts still took slightly longer than Vi did. 'Maybe I'll start working out with Lucy like in the show.' David thought as he took a deep breath.
"Alright, it's your turn! Don't worry. It's not as scary as it looks. Just try not to bite your tongue off," Powder said with a wide grin.
"Right, let me just do something real quick," David replied while pulling out his chem-breather, taking a deep breath of chems to give his body an extra boost.
"Oh! OOo! Can I have some?!" Powder quickly asked as she looked at the mask.
David eyed her for a moment as he held the mask. "Nothings free," He said
"Aww, come on, I don't have any money on me." Powder pouted.
David hummed as he tapped the chem-breather. "Fine," he said, then tossed her the mask.
Powder cheered as she caught the mask. She didn't waste a second, so she brought it to her mouth and breathed in the vaporized chems. David could see the shiver go down her spine as the chems hit her system.
"Damn, that's harsh." She said through gritted teeth. She handed David the mask back once her body relaxed. "Oh, don't tell Vander or Vi. They always complain about chems. They say I'm not allowed to touch them." Powder huffed.
"You know, this is just some crap you can buy from anyone. Once I start my lab, I'll make much better than this." David explained as he slipped the mask back into his jacket and sat on the metal slab. He turned back to Powder once more. "But those you'll have to pay for, one way or another." He said as his eyes trailed down her body. Then, just like Vi did, David rocked forward and was sent flying down the pipe.
"Sounds fun! I can't wait!" Powder's voice echoed, then faded as he raced down the metal tube.
David didn't register Powder's words as he raced down the pipe. 'FUCK!' He shouted in his mind while gripping the handlebars. The metal slab sped down the pipe faster than he was ready for, and it wasn't a smooth ride. Bumps and cracks would cause the ride to go airborne for a few seconds. But his ride was ending as he saw the light at the end of the tunnel. 'Shit, shit, okay, start running she said.' He reminded himself.
Once the tunnel ended, the metal slab was yanked out from under him as the heavy metal chain ran out of slack. From here, David was sent flying. He tried to do what Powder said and get ready to keep his feet moving, but she didn't tell him that the pipe was a good foot from the ground, so he was flying through the air at full speed.
He started to curl his body on reflex, protecting his head and bracing for impact. But all his momentum stopped instantly once his body hit a soft wall. "I got you," Vi's voice broke through the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. Uncovering his head, he realized Vi had caught him princess-style. "First time down a pipe? Well, at least you didn't scream like a girl like Ekko did his first time." Vi laughed as she lowered David to the ground on his shaky legs.
His legs slightly gave out as he fell forward against Vi. "Thank Janna, you're so strong!" David groaned as he hugged her, and since she was taller than him, his face was buried into her modest chest, hidden under her baggy hoodie. A sensation David would have enjoyed if the adrenaline and chems in his body weren't making his head spin.
"Easy there, kid," Vi said, pushing David's head away. "I might be your guide, but you ain't paying for the VIP treatment."
"WOOOO~" Powder's voice echoed through the pipe as David moved away from Vi. "HERE I COME!" Powder called out.
David's eyes widened as he watched Powder shoot down the pipe much faster than he did as she rode the metal slab like a skateboard. "That little!" Vi shouted as Powder was sent flying through the air. Vi was forced to jump, barely able to grab Powder by the waist and pull her down like a touchdown pass. "Didn't I tell you to stop doing that!" Vi shouted while holding Powder in a crushing bear hug.
"Gah! I give! I give!" Powder cried out while she flailed her legs and fist against Vi's stronger body.
As the two sisters bickered, David spun around once he heard footsteps walking up behind him. "Well, well, what do we have here." A distorted voice called out. David's eyes narrowed once he saw the group approaching them. A group of four sump kids, all gaunt and wiry as cheap homemade chem-tech augments. From weapons, knives, and hammers to implants like the full mask the lanky leader of the group was wearing. His voice was distorted because of it. "Don't you know this is Chem-Hounds territory? You trying to sneak in without paying the toll?" The man taunted.
Putting Powder down, Vi stepped up. "We're just passing through. There's no need to get hostile," Vi stated, her eyes turning sharp.
Powder moved close to David, leaning over to whisper to him. "Get ready to fight, Vi is bad at talking to people." Powder whispered, but Vi clearly heard it as she twitched at Powder's words.
"HEY!" The lanky leader shouted and pointed at Powder. "The fuck you whispering about back there?" His glare caused Vi to clench her fist as she shifted her weight, preparing for a fight.
Before anything could happen, David stepped up with his hands raised. "Easy," David spoke calmly. "There's no reason to fight. I'm just here to put my mother to rest, so let-"
"Fuck your mother!" The leader called out, interrupting David. "Drop the bag and empty your pockets!" He shouted while pointing a machete-like weapon at David.
David just sighed and shook his head. "You shouldn't have said that because now this is happening." David dropped his hands, pulled the revolver from his belt, and fired it at the leader. The chem bullet slammed against the leader's leg, blowing a chunk out of it instantly. "How about the four of you drop your weapons and empty your pockets." David's voice was cold, and his hand steady. If he had to use this small-time gang as a prop to make a name for himself, he would.