"I'm going to vomit," Caitlyn warned the doctor as the smells, sounds, and sights of the horrific procedures were overwhelming her. It also made her lightheaded enough that she had to grab a corner of the table to stabilize herself.
The tall man with a bandaged face nodded, keeping his focus on another chemical mixture meant to push the battle of Vi's body to the side of life. It was a frustrating, almost darkly comic fight. Give more blood here, incision there, coagulate there, inject shimmer here, but not too fast or it would heal over too fast.
I don't know how much time has passed, but it feels like he's done the amount of surgery that a physician would do over a week. Though Vi seems to be in delirium the agony is clearly getting through.
"Disgorge into one of the buckets underneath. Then, I'll need you to retrieve the chains near the wall over there." The doctor gestured to the far wall. Caitlyn just saw the pointing and heard another nightmare-inducing scream from the patient/subject as she leaned over and emptied the breakfast the Firelights had given her.
"Why–why isn't she staying under fully?" Cait asked as she wiped her mouth and walked over to the chains.
Singed sighed. "This shimmer variant combats unconsciousness, shock, and my more powerful sedatives. If she lives, it should integrate with her existing glands and allow her to still lose consciousness and sleep, at least the animal subjects indicate it." He made another cut and installed another tube into a vein.
Vi's body jerked violently, but her eyes remained rolled back and she wasn't saying words. Just screams, groans, and gasps.
Cait picked up the chains, but then something caught her eye in the next room. It was a gigantic form. A powerful man, but also part beast. Cait felt a potent flight instinct kick in. Jinx did not bring us to a place of healing.
She glanced back at the scientist working on his experiment and saw he was preparing more syringes and had not noticed her snooping. Walking carefully with the chains, Cait started to lay them over Vi.
"Be sure to fasten them tightly underneath. She might be strong enough to break them near the end if they are too loose," Singed instructed.
Cait lay them across Vi's struggling body, but merely wrapped them around each other instead of locking them. Sorry, doctor, but she's not staying here after this ends. She stood back up and nodded.
Singed checked the blood flasks. "Bring more blood from the second cabinet over there. The ones from the second level will work for her type instead of the top. Definitely not the lower levels."
Cait complied. Before going back, she checked on Jinx. She was still out, even as Cait shook her by the shoulder. Come on Jinx! Your sister will need your help soon! Returning, she pierced the soft lid with the tub and passed it to Singed. "Is there much left?"
Singed spared a moment to look at the captain. "For the procedures, you mean? We are approaching the end. But regrettably, the remainder will require her to be more conscious as the surgery will be around her heart and then her brain. And with higher levels of shimmer, she will have higher levels of agitation."
Cait looked at Vi's tormented face. How cruel Pilotver and the Undercity have been to them. This must be the worst. I will help them leave here and then they can finally heal together.
Leadership sucks. There was little anyone could do to convince Sevika otherwise.
Her current grievance was while she and her comrades were being treated well enough, it was boring as hell. She had anticipated it and in a generous spirit brought lots instead of cards since she knew Lock and Ran preferred them. Then, instead of playing with her, Lock was reading the pamphlets available in the reception area of the Enforcer Headquarters and Ran was speaking with the Piltie detainees who were held here before their trivial offenses were adjuctated.
That left her playing lots with a few other arrestees who despite their circumstances seemed to be the luckiest people she had meant.
The small sticks fell out of her opponents hands and landed in her favor. "Ooh," she said dejectedly and passed them to Sevika.
Sevika picked them up and tossed them. "Max," she declared and picked them back up. She was about to toss them again when a hand suddenly grabbed hers with firmness.
Sevika looked up in surprise to see an elegantly dressed woman glaring at her. "Do you know what General Fallarus did to dignitaries that broke a truce with Noxus? How many days they screamed to die?" she interrogated in a cold rage.
I still have my arm and Ran still has her hand. We wouldn't win a fight here–it's not like we'll have soldiers flying through the glass above–but we could take out more of them than they could of us. Silco's instructions though….
"Sounds like I should feel safe then, that you wouldn't break the truce while there are negotiations. Right, Councilor Medarda, I presume?"
Her golden eyes stayed fixed on Sevika's olive ones. "You actually don't know about the attacks then."
"There were new ones? No, I don't," the Zaunite confessed.
"Stillwater Prison was attacked. We don't know how many were injured and dead yet. Then, shortly after I spoke with him, the hextech co-creator and his latest discovery are buried under a building because of Undercity agents."
The brat?! How can she be so industrious at the worst times? "There isn't an Undercity hivemind. One or both those attacks was probably by the chembarons or by the Firelights."
Mel lowered her eyebrows. "The chembarons. We have learned more about them recently."
Sevika kept her face neutral. Chross must have stayed loyal then. That means the other chembarons are in for a surprise, thanks to the Firelights as far as the military committee will think. "What can you tell me of the attacks? Did they have uniforms? What type of weapons were used?"
Mel frowned. "I don't seek to collaborate with you. If you don't know, then you and Silco are incompetent or impotent."
Stomach slights, Sevika. "The chembarons and the Firelights aren't trying to make peace right now, are they? My view will give you information that is actionable."
Mel paused. "It is early, but there are reports of smoke bombs and some type of personal flying vehicles being used for Stillwater."
"Definitely the Firelights," Sevika said honestly.
"One of the agents that attacked Viktor was captured. He has been quiet, but he has a tattoo that is half-4 and half F."
So that was Finn's plan. Bad to make a play against the Pilties at this time for his own power; worse it to fail. "Finn, a chembaron."
Mel finally released Sevika's hand. "There is much to be resolved. For now, you won't be enchained. You should hope that the diplomatic committee returns in good health."
She marched out and left Sevika frowning. She looked at her opponents who exhaled and then looked at her expectantly.
"I'm out. Enjoy the winnings," she said, tossing the lots to the man next to cast. Sometimes, you have to quit while you're behind and know that a winning streak is far away.