The Last Drop was rarely quiet. Its closed periods were brief for cleaning and stocking and even all-hands-on-deck operations still left a bartender and usually some unaffiliated customers. It was loud enough now to make the clang Silco's office be unremarkable.
"Reset it. Probably unnecessary and undignified, but it might be key," Silco told the working crew and then headed down to the main area. Chuck was tending bar and caught his signal to make him coffee. It is early and Sevika has brought good news. If Heimerdinger can do his part and the young do theirs, this day could be glorious.
He joined Chross at a table near the stairs. It is good for them to see me down here.
"She already left to give our agreement?" Silco asked, knowing the answer.
Nodding, Chross produced a match as Silco took out a cigar. "About a quarter of an hour ago. She should be making the mark and maybe even exchanging words with the chirean Firelight." The spymaster lit his boss' cigar and then watched the match burn for a bit. "I confess, I'm curious about the Firelights own intelligence gathering networks. We have ideas of informers, but he might have some surveillance tech we don't know about. Though I'm getting ahead of myself."
First step is a cease fire. Then peace. Then some form of collaboration. It won't be until the last step that Jinx will realize her errors. The Firelights and Vi won't knock her out or the like, but she is not one of them. They won't understand her and after she's made the hextech weapon for them, then they won't want someone who has killed their own among them. Teenage rebellion is normal; Jinx is just doing it her way.
"Do we have information about last night's Council meeting?"
Chross frowned. "The official sources were vague besides Derek has been confirmed. The captain I owned has been suspended and the lower spies are having to keep their heads down. However, no news can be news too."
Silco mirrored Chross. "If they were leading with the olive branch, that would be publicized. So there will be some military action incoming and likely soon. I should have had Sevika press for a meeting with the Firelights soon. It would be a sign of weakness, but Zaunites must find a way to live and fight together or we'll fight and die together."
Chross made a flick of his wrist, snuffing the small flame out right before it reached his fingertips. "There was an action I kept under plausible deniability that I should… do you hear that?"
There was the sound of metal slamming against metal. And then the body of a chemtank flew through the window. The shattered glass flew broadly and a fragment cut Silco's cheek. The body could have gone through the wall on the other side, but one of their sword hands caught the floor and they came to an abrupt halt.
Chross and Silco looked out and saw Vi. She had on Vander's old mining gauntlets and was wielding them in an effective combo of blows against the other chemtank that was standing guard.
Bolting from his chair, Silco switched to command mode. "Chross, alert your agents to watch for more Firelights coming in. Lock, take everyone in here and get to the roof or second floor window to watch for them. Ran, go out the back and get to Sevika. If I become a casualty, make it clear she is to assume direct control. I'm activating the other chemtanks. Now!"
Running over to the bar, he pressed the hidden button that alerted and stimulated the six more chemtanks. He then picked up his coffee. After a sip, he gave Chuck a slight nod before the bartender raced up the stairs.
A loud thud was heard despite the commotion. "SILCO!" the warrior-sister screamed and leapt through the broken window.
"Greetings. I regret that I'm busy today and need to go to my office." The chemtanks sprinted up from the basement or jumped down from the second floor. "These fellows will help you make an appointment," he said in a chill tone and headed up the stairs.
Roaring, Vi dashed at chemtank three and ducked under its double swings. Grabbing the end of its right arm, she broke off their swords and then swung the damaged chemtank into chemtank eight.
Chemtank four jumped on a table and then leapt at her. Vi accepted the challenge and leapt up too, though back some so she was higher up when they met. She was fast enough to get a slash with the stolen sword before her foe could and then delivered a powerful blow into their core so they shot down into chemtank six.
Before she could land, chemtank five advanced in and got a cut on Vi's side before she could bring the sword and gauntlet down to block. Overcoming the pains, she struck with her right hand and stunned them enough to maneuver her sword in and pierce chemtank five's chest.
Her feet had just touched the ground when chemtank seven appeared and went for a low slash at her knees. Vi sidestepped, brought her fist down on the chemtank's neck and then stomped on their head when they started making out with the floor.
Vi was panting now as chemtanks three and eight recovered and were trying to get on opposite sides of her. Vi advanced on chemtank three, who swung fast with their remaining sword. Vi evaded and made a potent jab that sent them flying out a different window.
Chemtank eight moved with swiftness and got a palpable hit into Vi's left tricep and shoulder before she moved away screaming. Vi caught chemtank six was recovering too, but couldn't find an opening against chemtank eight as they pressed their advantage.
She half-spun around and sprinted to chemtank six. They took a defensive side stance, but Vi was prepared and slid under to strike at their underprotected legs. Chemtank six went down.
Vi jumped back on her feet as chemtank eight was closing in. Vi grabbed a table and turned it into a devastating flying top. It struck their face mask, and chemtank eight was out.
Clap. Clap. Clap. "Impressive. But, just between us, I still think Jinx is the true champion of Zaun," Silco said as he turned the stairs and quickly entered his office. He shut the door as Vi closed the distance in a heartbeat.
"Don't talk about my sister!" Vi hissed and kicked the door so it flew into the desk. She stepped forward and activated a trip wire. A steel cage dropped around her.
Vi snorted. "This is your play? I'll be out in moments."
Silco shook his head. "Only part of it." He brought a mask to his face as knockout gas started filling the room.
Vi battered at the bars. They were bending and some breaking, but her body was only partly healed and she was tired from the battle.
"After your rest, we can at last talk. For now, sleep well," Silco directed.
She was out.
He left his office and removed the mask. "Lock, find heavy chains, boat anchor strength and bring them here. Also, have the construction crew remake and reinforce the cage. Finally, make sure there is more incapacitating agent available. A variant if possible, she may develop tolerances faster with her shimmered body." Lock nodded and left.
As Silco descended, Ran ran back in. They looked around, taken aback at the destruction before seeing him. "I'd just started on my way there when she came back on a hoverboard with the Firelight lieutenant. She said they're eager to talk."
Sevika turned? No, she wouldn't be so obvious. The Firelights must have agreed to the truce, and then Vander's lesser daughter went rogue. If they hadn't agreed and she was just the vanguard, they would have attacked by now.
"Have them meet me on the roof."
Silco moved up there and had his troops go down. He didn't have long to wait. He was disinclined to shake hands, but gave a nod as the Firelight and Sevika landed. "It appears there is a lack of consensus among the Firelights."
S returned the nod. "Vi's attack was unsanctioned and from bad blood. Still, if she's alive and well, we want her kept that way."
"I wanted my chemtanks left alive and well. I could leave us all disappointed… but there are reasons for keeping her as you wish. Namely, we need to make a stronger peace between us and protection against a Topside attack." Silco paused and checked with Sevika, who made a slight nod. They've approved a meeting at Babette's and soon.
"I should see her."
"Still distrusting? Fine, come and see."
Silco led S into his office. "Let's aim for tomorrow morning for peace talks. Any earlier and I will have a mutiny on my hands for surrendering."
S checked Vi's pulse through the cage then nodded again. "I'll encourage this."
"For our collective defense, I have a non-belligerent idea to help your leader and my ward gain time for whatever weapon they are forging. In exchange for support and protection while carrying it out, I swear no harm will come to Vi. Should I come to an ill-end though, well…."
S nodded.
"Oh, I expect Jinx to be at Babette's," Silco added. He caught Sevika frowning at that, but that was nothing new.
S listened to Silco's plan and then flew off. Silco and Sevika went back down and were glad to see the chemtanks were being tended to and the furniture reset without explicit orders. Licker, apparently oblivious to the recent battle, walked in and made a selection on the jukebox.