Lunch Time in the Arcade
Abandoned Arcade: The Undercity; Morning.
“I think Demacia is the best place to say where you’re from, Steve.” Powder said, motioning for the wrench from her perch on his shoulders. Reaching into his pocket, he handed up the tool to her and she went to work on the bolts. The boxing games main body was laying on the wood floor, the boxing gloves and pads laying across the room while Powder worked on the ceiling mounts. It had begun to shake violently when doing its game cycle, to the point its moorings started to loosen. Part of the problem was the wood ceiling was starting to weaken from the wear and tear of the six hundred plus pound machine suspended from the rafters shaking and moving. The other was the chem pipes and hydraulics beginning to wear and needed patching. Her sister was tough on the machine, and it got used a lot by her brother often as well. “Move me closer? I can't reach the other side.” He nodded and shifted around, until she kicked him to stop. He was beginning to feel like a horse.
“Demacia. That’s the militaristic government to the west, right?” He asked, thinking about the map that Ekko had supplied him for Runeterra. Powder had brought a beat-up book on the different regions of the world and histories as well as a few others that pertained to regions. Steve had been reading over the books the past two nights since he appeared here. The kids had been bringing him food and water, so he wouldn’t have to leave until he had his backup story thought up. He hadn’t minded staying in the arcade the past couple days, it was a good place to acclimate to this strange new world, especially the air. Project Rebirth had made his body amazingly adaptable; and he had found that he was breathing as easily and Powder and Ekko who were born in the Fissures. Most people in the Undercity were able to breath the air down here, and those who were wearing ventilators were probably visiting from Piltover. He was able to watch the street below from the attic floor and could see the people of all kinds walk by. Steve took notes of what he saw and used another book that had been on the prize shelves to find what which Vastaya they had been. Many of them hadn't been in the book, but enough were in it to give a good representation of the ones he could identify. “Is that one the best option?”
“You’re a soldier, right?” She said, tightening the last bolt, and giving the mounting arm a good push. “They’re soldiers and it’s a better option than Noxus.” She tapped his head and pointed at the railing, he reached over and grabbed the schematics she had drawn up, handing them up to her. “Noxians sound a lot like the guys you just finished fighting with, invading all their neighbors, so I don’t think you’d identify with them.” Looking over her plans, she pulled the flexible chem pipes and hydraulic tubes were in the right place. “Ok, I think we’re ready.” She hopped off his shoulders and grabbed more tools she was going to need as the soldier grabbed the heavy ropes hooked to the pully rigged to the boxing game. Powder hopped onto the machine and straddled it as Steve pulled.
The boxing machine lifted up smoothly and Powder quickly hooked the chem lines and tubes up quickly and between the pair seated the two pieces together. “From what I was reading, Demacia is kind of xenophobic and a serious intolerance to magic.” He said, keeping the machine steady as she locked down the next bolt in line. “Xeno...” She glanced back at him.
“Fear of others.” Steve explained. She seemed to understand and continued working. “That’s why you left!” Powder exclaimed, snapping her fingers. “Your brother was a mageborne and he was taken away by the mageseekers and you left in protest.”
“Kind of convoluted.” He said, after a few moments’ consideration. She nodded in agreement and continued on the next bolt in the line. “nearly done, OOH! How about you were captured and enslaved at Bilgewater, and you escaped! That would make sense for you being here in the Lanes, and it’s close to Bilgewater.”
Steve laughed “I like the idea of being a pirate. I saw Captain Blood at the Oxford theater.”
“Perfect!” powder exclaimed, “You were kidnapped by pirates, and you escaped. It’s a great cover story!” as she worked on the last bolt. “Almost done here.”
“Why does he need a cover story, Powder?” A voice came from behind them on the lower floor. Powder squeaked, nearly falling off the machine, and Steve looked towards the voice. A teenage girl with pink hair stared up at them, holding two waxed paper containers in either hand. The scowl on her face told him that someone was in trouble, and it might be him.
“Down!” Powder said, giving him the thumbs up, the Machine was secured. He moved and took a step closer and helped her off the machine. “That’s my sister.” She said grinning and mouthing that it was fine and motioned at the tools. Steve nodded and started picking up the various tools sitting around the base of the boxing machine and putting them in the tool chest.
Powder hopped down the stairs and approached her sister, a wide grin on her face. “Is that Jericho’s?” She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. She’d left the Last Drop early this morning, to check on Steve and get a start on the fixes to the boxer and the shooting gallery. Her grin weakened somewhat when she registered Vi’s expression, one she seldom sees.
“Who is that?” Her older sister asked, putting the two bags on the counter. “Why is he here, and why does he need a cover story.” She crossed her arms across her chest, with the I’m Waiting look. Powder grimaced. “In that order?”
Vi’s eyes just narrowed.
“Okay, okay… His name is Steve Rogers, and he’s a...” Powder started and halted. “How much did you hear?”
“I know he’s not a kidnapped pirate.” Vi told, her voice raising slightly. Powder exhaled. “He’s helping me with the repairs, and we let him stay here.” And added. “Me and Ekko.”
“You and Little man.” Vi nodded, ok that tracks. It’s not great, but it tracks. She breathed out, calming herself before she went off. Powder seemed fine, and in fact looked happy. That alone was keeping the blond man from a beating. “keep going.”
“He’s... not from the undercity, or Piltover. He’s a soldier.” And waved her hands off, knowing that Vi would make the next leap. “He’s not and enforcer!”
Vi glared at the man, who was cleaning up the area, but she could tell the soldier was watching them. Even though he was slightly smaller than Vander, she didn’t get the danger vibe from him. It was weird, as most strangers did to some extent. “A soldier from where and why he needs a cover story?” Trying to get her sister back on topic of why he needed a cover story.
“Do you remember, the other night on the roof, I told you about the Rune I was given?” she asked.
Vi narrowed her eyes... “Yess...”
Powder pointed at Steve, who was leaning on the boxing machine railing, and told her story…
Ekko rushed down the busy street towards the Arcade, by way of Jericho’s as it was time for Steve to have his first real taste of the delicacies of Zaun. Dodging and weaving through the walkways above the main street, he took another offshoot walkway to bring himself over the food vendor. Peering over the side, he saw Mylo and Claggor, mingled in the mid-morning crowd waiting for their order he assumed. Ekko was surprised they were out this early, as he had taken them for late risers as he always figured them as running around the lanes late at night. When the pair showed up at Benzo’s, it was usually the afternoon or closer to evening. He’d just keep his cool, and not mention anything about their guest and headed down to the food vendor.
“Little man!” Claggor cheered, patting him on his shoulder as Ekko sidled up to him. The boy acted surprised to see the pair. “Oh HI! Didn’t see you there.” He grinned. “Just grabbing some lunch...”
Claggor nods. “Makes sense, since you’re here in the crowd.” Ekko looked around for Mylo, who’d moved up to grab their food. “Were heading over to the arcade, then up to Piltover.” He said and winked.
Ekko got to the counter and was greeted by the large fish Vastaya. “Three Bounty Bowls, wet to go.” and after putting a couple cogs on the counter, Jericho got to work. “Piltover?” he asked turning back to Claggor, just as they were heading off. He didn’t miss the arcade mention either, but he wasn’t sure how to get them to not go to the hideout.
“Yeah, were gonna go this afternoon.” The larger of the two said. “we’re meeting Vi at the arcade.”
Ekko’s face dropped. “Vi’s already there?” this can’t be good. Hopefully, Powder can keep it together with her sister, and not blow this up. Mylo looked at him askance. “Yeah, she is. Something bugging you?”
“Who’s the third meal for?” Claggor asked, crossing his arms as Jericho passed three bags of food to the Ekko. The boy grinned “We needed some muscle for the repairs at the arcade, and we ran across a big strong guy who we let sleep there till the work is done. Third bags for him.” He then added “I don’t think Powder told Vi.”
The older boys looked at each other, and smirked. “This should be interesting.” Claggor said, and the three headed towards the arcade.
“So let me get this straight…” Vi said, sitting on the floor, her back against the wall with Powders head resting on her shoulder. Steve sat taken a seat on the stairs watching the pair. Powder explained what happened, and Vi accepted what she said at face value. Still, she was clearly disturbed by it. “That Rune you showed me the other night actually worked.” Her little sister nodded and Vi continued. “What happened to it?” Magic was something that she never wanted to mess with and was doubly certain she didn’t want Powder to either. She wasn’t Anti magic but would prefer it stayed far away from her and her family.
“It burst into a blue flash and was gone.” She said, looking up at her. Vi sighed, “That’s probably best.” And shifted her gaze to Steve. “You... just appeared in an ice ball.”
“Pretty much, ten feet above the Enforcers.” The Soldier said.
“Thanks, I suppose.” Vi said to the soldier, resting her head on Powders. “I wish you’d told me about all this.” She said to her sister. She didn’t like Powder keeping secrets from her, especially the ones where enforcers try to execute children.
Powder poked Vi in the side, causing her to jump with a small grin. “You keep things from me all the time for my own good...” she stated. “If I’d told you, you’d have gone off the deep end, so I kept it to myself for your own good.”
“Not all the time.” Vi countered but had to admit she did keep some things from her. It hadn’t occurred to her that Powder noticed she kept things from her. This was something she had to fix. She closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. “We’ll keep this to ourselves for now?” and felt her sister nod. If Vander found out, she wasn’t sure what he would do.
“What about the boys?” The younger girl asked, “Maybe they should know too?”
Steve chimed in. “The more eyes on a situation shows a clearer picture.” And added, leaning forward. “Unless you don’t trust them.”
Vi glared at him, her lip curling “I trust them fine, It’s you I don’t trust.” She spat, earning her a look from her little sister. Accidently saving Powder doesn’t give you a pass Blondie, she thought.
Steve nodded. “Prudent. I wouldn’t either especially around your family and the situation your in.” And leaned back. “Keeping them informed means less of a chance on them finding out on their own, and probably out of context.” And added, tossing a bit of old chem tube into the small trash pile. “Less headaches for you later. Their your units, and you know best how to use your resources.”
Vi considered that a moment, nodding. Blondie made sense despite being a tool. “Don’t come up with a cover story, just tell whoever asks to piss off.” and looked down at her sister. “Jericho’s is probably cold by now...”
“Jericho’s is good cold or hot.” Powder stands up, grinning wide. “I’ll grab some bowls.” And ran off towards the back hopping over the counter.
“Grab enough for the boys, they’ll be here soon.” Vi’s shouted as her sister rushed into the back room. Vi looked at the man across the room. “Powder trusts you, and I trust Powder.” She said plainly. “But betray that trust and you’ll be sorry.”
Steve smirked. “I’d expect nothing less.”
Vi glanced over to the stained-glass window, shaking her head, surprised how this day was progressing. The resources comment pissed her off, seriously. They weren’t resources, they were her family, her friends and cohorts. They were going to hit the penthouse this afternoon. She had a plan, and a route to take. Milo had the locks covered, Claggor and She were the muscle and Powder…
Powder... where did she fit. Her sister wanted to join in on some of the bigger jobs, and she had decided that if she wanted to come, she could. She didn’t really ask Claggor or Mylo, she just decided on her own. They went along with it, of course.
“The place you came from…” she started, scratching her head. “You led people?”
Steve nodded. “I did, a squad of eleven or twelve, with a core team of six.” He smirked. “we did every thing from frontal assaults to covert operations.”
“Did Powder tell you anything about our plans?” She asked the soldier, who shook his head. “I was unconscious for nearly a day and a half, and we talked mostly about Runeterra in general.” He shrugged. “Then came the topics of cover stories and pirates.” With that, the pink haired girl snorted. “Yeah, it can be like that.” A ghost of a grin crossed her face, and just as quickly the scowl came back.
“So, hypothetically...” Steve opened the door to the conversation, bringing it back around to the plan. Powders sister was pretty intense but if he could help, he wanted to.
“Say we are robbing a rich guy’s place, with me, my brothers and Powder.” She said, quietly. “I’ve got a route planned to get there and leave and I cased the place so I know the guys routine.”
“Skills?”
“Mylo is a decent lockpick.” She said, leaning forward. “Claggor and me are the muscle if its needed.” Vi paused, taking a breath. “Its Powders first time going out with us, but knows a lot about the value of stuff, so we don’t take stupid shit."
Steve nodded. “Everyone know the route. There and back and alternates” and added “maybe some intel on the building itself, and when were you planning on going?”
“I’m telling them when they get here, and this afternoon.” Vi said.
Steve’s eyes raised. “In the daytime?” as Vi glanced at a particularly interesting crack in the stained glass panel.
“Have you done more jobs together than this?” Steve asked, his voice calm and measured, though in his head red flags were being thrown left and right.
“The three of us have, but not this big...” she stated. “This is a big one...” and shook her head. “Wait why am I telling you this shit.” Vi sat up, her face screwed up a sneer. How did this guy get her to spill their entire plan like that! Him and his Pilty haircut. How did he maker her doubt it?
Cuz it was a shitty idea. BlondIie was right. If she had talked to Vander about it, he would have said the same thing.
“Because you have doubts, and on something like this, if there's any doubt going in, you'll fail.” he leaned forward. “My professional opinion of your Op is postponing it until you plan it with your team and know it backwards and forwards before going. Plan how long you have inside the apartment, and evac when the clock hits zero.” It looked like it was getting into her head, so he continued. “You also want more Intel on the guy. You did great job getting his movement patterns, but where did he go for any length of time. Five and Dime, Grocery, Brothel?” Vi’s mouth opened to say something before Steve continued. “Finally, Who’s nose is going to get out of joint by robbing him, and what splash back will you get hit by if it all goes south.” He then added at the end. “Hypothetically or course.”
“That sounds like a pretty good argument, VI.” Claggor said, startling Vi and Steve as they turned to see her brothers and Ekko watching them, joined by Powder. All of them were carrying bags of food, or bowls to put the food in. “We’ll follow your lead but holding off might not be a bad idea.”
Mylo nodded. “Yeah, It’ll still be there, we can empty that place out next week!” Powder moved forward with the wood bowls in the center, and each took a place forming a circle, with the two youngest in the group making a spot or him to join them.
Steve glanced at Vi, who gave him a slight nod, so he took the invitation and sat between Powder and Ekko. A steaming bowl was placed in front of him, filled with fish parts in spicy gravy. It had a fishy smell that made his stomach rumble, which might be that he had only eaten hard tack and some baked flat bread that Ekko had brought him. He looked at the group as they ate their bowls with their fingers and slurped the thick juice. Steve took a piece of the fish and popped it in his mouth and was pleasantly surprised. The fish reminded him of Hemet’s Seafood Shack at Coney Island, one of the last times he and Bucky had visited the fish restaurant. That next night they were going to the Stark Expo with some girls Bucky had set them up with. That would be the night he would meet Erskine and start his journey to Project Rebirth. He felt the nudge from his right, breaking him out of his memory.
Ekko looked up at him. “Are you ok?” and realized they were all staring at him. He must have been a thousand miles away, or possibly a thousand worlds.
“Yeah, the food is good. Reminded me of a buddy of mine, that’s all.” He took another piece of fish and sipped some of the gravy. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he added. “It’s a good memory. Only thing missing is a beer.”
“Jericho’s has another happy customer.” Claggor said, finishing his bowl. “What are your plans, Steve.” He asked after wiping his chin on his sleeve. “What brings you to the Lanes.” It was a good question.
“It seems a good place to get a fresh start without a lot of questions.” Steve smiled, and Vi nodded, apparently agreeing with his ‘none of your business’ stance. Claggor chuckled at the response and gave him a little salute. Mylo, however, didn’t pick up the nuance. “They’re not going to miss you in Demacia?” Throwing out a ‘AH HA’ question. Steve chuckled, good try kid.
“I don’t know about Demacia, but nobody here is going to be looking for me.” The soldier said.
Mylo grinned and mouthed ‘Damn!’ and continued. “The Enforcers aren’t going to like the ‘fresh start’ stance. They like to mess with us a lot.”
“That’s my understanding from Ekko and Powder.” Steve said. “They are a problem. Any suggestions with dealing with them?”
Vi simply said. “Don’t. Just avoid them.”
Piltover: University District, Kiramman apartments: Afternoon
“You really went to the Undercity to get these?” Caitlyn Kiramman asked, following Jayce Talis through the hallways of his apartment building. He had put her to work as soon as he’d seen her, passing a large overflowing box of gears, tubing and parts to the teenager. Some of it she could name, some was unique but so long as Jayce knew what they were, then she was certain that he had plans for them. “Weren't you afraid?”
“A little danger is worth the risk don’t you think?” Jayce said as she adjusted the box for a better grip, dipping the box a bit too far and a few pieces of the box's contents fell to the carpeted floor. Caitlyn watched them fall too late to catch them clatter around, stopping them with her foot before the went too far.
“Careful, that’s your parents' money you're dropping.” He said as he pushed his key into the lock and turned it as Caitlyn stooped over and picked up the fallen parts, putting them back in the box. “C’mon, get a wiggle on slowpoke.” He said, entering his apartment. She smirked and followed him into the apartment. “Where do you want the box?”
He motioned to the room to the left as she entered. “Just put it in there, I have to sort it out.” And moved into the front room to the balcony door. Caitlyn went into the side room which was designed to be a bedroom but was a storage room with a cot. She put the box next to the plotting table, and shook her head at the sandwiches sitting atop some blueprints and the security chest. “You forgot to eat again!” she said loudly as she picked up the old food and threw them in the trash. He really needed someone to look after him, that was certain.
She walked out and joined him on the balcony, looking down at the people milling about below. There were a lot of enforcers patrolling the area and gave one of them a wave when they looked up. They waved back. “Dinner tonight is at six, don’t you dare be late.” And grinned up at him, which he responded with a smirk. “Davon is cooking, since father will be at the surgical theater till later tonight. Mother will be thrilled to have you.” She did prefer when her father cooked, it made them feel closer as a family and she felt less lonely. Jayce was a member of the family, or at least the extended one. The Kiramman’s had sponsored him since she was a little girl, and she had grown up thinking of his as a brother figure.
“I do like eating dinner.” He mused, rubbing his chin. “Sometimes days in a row…” and nudges her. “You talked me into it.”
Smiling in anticipation of the game of cards they’d play later, she gave him a quick squeeze and headed for the door. “I’ll tell Carson to expect you!” knowing the household butler would be most put out if Jayce was late. Caitlyn exited the apartment, leaving him to his work and took several steps at a time as she descended the stairwell and onto the street. She could have taken the lift, but the stairway offered a chance at some exercise that wasn’t her usual proper routine.
Once outside, she composed herself and headed to the Kiramman estate at a dignified pace passing several people along the street.
Zora Reez watched the Kiramman girl walk off down the street, her blue tresses swaying as she turned the corner at the end of the block. The Kiramman girl wasn’t much younger than she was, the magicborne girl thought as she played with the small hummingbird which danced around her. She pushed snow white hair away from her dark-skinned face, sticking her tongue out at the small avian which likewise flicked its tongue at her. With a wave of her hand, the small bird streaked off towards the penthouse apartment and hovered at the windows. Zora closed her eyes and cast the spell.
She could see through the windows of the penthouse through her little bird, and the man who lived there puttering around. Writing equations on a chalk board, referencing Runes in a junk tome known for inaccuracies and rummaging around in the box the girl had brought up with him. As he moved into the other room he paused at the door and made certain it was locked, and went into the storage room. Once inside he moved the blueprints and opened a small locked chest, and inside she could see the telltale glow of the brackern crystals. Several of them.
Zora ended the spell and released the humming bird, which streaked off into the distance. It had served its purpose well, and was now free to go as it wills. The Maestro had been correct on his scrying, but had he known how many there were? Truth to be told, she could not confirm a number but with the glow coming from the inside of the chest it was quite a few.
An ice cream cone appeared in front of her, causing her to jump slightly. Takjir Reez held the cone up for his sister, eyebrow raised. “If you are so shocked by a sweet confection, I’d hate to see your reaction to an actual threat.” He chuckled. She took it with a slight sneer and put some of the creamy goodness into her mouth, savoring the flavor. One of the only good things about this cursed port city was its sweets.
“He will be out for the night, eating with the Kirammans.” Zora said, after swallowing the bite. “My little spy showed me where he was storing them, though It looked quite heavy.”
Her brother crunched the hard cone, bits of the wafer trapped in his beard. His sister brushed them out, shaking her head. “That shouldn’t be a problem, We don’t need the chest just the contents.” Takjir smiled, looking down at his sister, her white hair a contrast for his black dreadlocks. “and his lab will be a memory by the morning.” and with a flash a light, the place where the two siblings had been was vacant, the slight smell of ozone in the air.
Abandoned Arcade: The Undercity; evening
Powder watched as Vi and Steve ran the boxing machine through its paces, and was ecstatic that the machine was solid, and working perfectly while the others were taking a turn on the shooting gallery. Vi and Claggor had gone back to the Last Drop and gotten more of the bottled drinks and bar snacks and told Vander they’d be here if he was looking for them. Apparently, Claggor let it slip that there was a large man helping with the arcade fixes, and even more surprising, Vi vouched for him. Even MORE surprising was Vander was ok with it, since his two oldest children had given him a ringing endorsement on the condition that Powder and Ekko weren’t there alone with him at night. It did earn Claggor a solid punch in the arm, which he offered as tribute for being a blabbermouth.
She took a sip of the orange drink, the group lunch still ringing in her ears. Vi told the group that her plan to hit the penthouse needed to be drastically overhauled and tested before they did it, but she thought they could still do it properly and let them in on what she had planned for that afternoon. Claggor reiterated how holding off was a good idea, and Mylo said it would have blown up in their faces. The conversation pivoted around to Piltover, and how Topsiders never went to bed hungry, or holding off an evening meal just so they can eat a breakfast to work in the mines. That was a reality of the Lanes. Mylo interjected that some people just didn’t come back from the mines, whether falling into a fissure, or something collapse on them. “Pilties always come home.” Mylo finished his thought. “Lucky them.” There was a general agreement in his statement, and they moved on while Steve just listened.
Now, the kids were enjoying the fruits of her and Ekko’s labor and couldn’t keep the grin off her face. She felt useful, like she was valued part of the group, and she was having fun. Even Mylo was praising her, in the most Mylo way possible by blaming her for continuous missing, saying she did TOO good of a job. Claggor showed him how horribly wrong he was by getting on the board for the first time. “I guess the safest place to be when Mylo is shooting is in front of him.” She looked up to where her sister was at the boxing machine, ignoring the bickering between her brothers. She was now leaning on the rail with Ekko as Steve was taking a turn, his scoreboard name ‘ROG’ was climbing up the rankings. Claggor huffed out an ‘Oh Man’ in between jibes at Mylo as his own score was lost off the bottom of the board.
“Guess your gonna have to learn how to fight, FINALLY bro!” Mylo laughed, shadowboxing at his brother. Powder turned to the Teemo machine, deciding this would be the next project she’s tackle and maybe innovate it to work better. Clockworks are a lot of fun to work on, and the Teemo was almost all clockwork and chem-lights. She was already looking forward to pulling the machine apart and drawing out the plans with Ekko, if he wanted to help out. She loved finding out how things work.
“This your next project?” Steve said, leaning on the side of the cabinet. She looked up, smiling. “Yeah, I cant wait to rip into it!” rubbing her hands together.
“I had a grasp of the machines on my..” he started, then stopped, looking for a different word but was at a loss. She got it and nodded. “Well, our tech was different. I’m looking forward to seeing what you make out of these.”
“You’re leaving, huh…” She said, sullenly. Powder was getting used to having the Soldier around. Another person who was just going to disappear.
“I have to see things for myself, both in the Lanes and Piltover, see what I can do if anything.” He said, crossing his arms. “I’ll be back in couple days or so, but I’d like to leave my gear here with you and Ekko.” He said, and gave her a nudge. “You can hide it for me, right?”
Powder smiled broadly as Ekko trotted over. “I’ll hide it, so long as you promise to come back for it.” And looked at her friend. “He’s taking off for a couple days, gonna go walkabout.”
“Yeah?” Ekko exclaimed and fished around in his pants pocket. “Good thing I brought this from Benzo’s” and handed him a bag. “I found some of the scrap from your arrival. It’s not a bad bit of slag, and I gave you top price. Should help you on your trip!”
“Thanks.” Steve said and tucked it into his pocket. “I’m probably going to head off in the morning, so when you guys take off tonight, I won’t see you till I get back.” The two kids wrapped their arms around his waist in a hug, the soldier giving them a head rub. “Ill send you guys a Pneumatic Tube if I stay longer to let you know how its going. Got to keep you two in the loop, right?”
Powder and Ekko agreed, and began plotting the perfect place to hide Captain America’s Shield…
Piltover: University District, Evening
Enforcer Constable Den Tooms walked down the cobblestone streets of Piltovers University District for his fifth circuit since his shift started, his chem-lamp flashing down the various alleys and inset doorways that hid all sorts of nefarious activities. Students buying stimulants from chem-dealers to trenchers laying in wait for some innocent student to wander by an be murdered and robed. HE was the blue line that kept Piltover youth safe from them, so long as they didn’t cross it!
No… no that was terrible, try that again later.
Tooms shook his head, knowing his that line was jinked at best. He’d have to think better of it to make his journal entry the best it could be. People will read of his deeds one day and he needed to make sure that his prose was as impeccable as he was as a person. He flashed the lamp down the alley, nothing to note. Only the dirigibles moving overhead emanated sound
He walked past several academy students on their way to their dormitories, and after a quick glance as he could tell imposters a mile away, he was satisfied and continued his beat. He moved onto the next block, comfortable the last area was clear of all possible malcontents. It was important work, keeping watch over the young academics who were the future of the city of progress!
No, not right either, he thought. Maybe the Young Academics who Put Progress in The City Of…
No that was worse..
The next group of apartments belonged to the Kirammans, one of the oldest families of Piltover. They were a perfect family. The matriarch, Cassandra Kiramman was the current head of the clan, and councilwoman of Piltover. Tobias, a surgeon and physician and their daughter Caitlyn. He knew enough about them, in hopes one day he’d be on a detail protecting them. Speak in the right ear and who knows...
Sherriff Tooms sounds pretty good.
The explosion from above him broke his train of thought, and looked up. It looked like the top floor penthouse had smoke coming from the balcony and windows, thought he didn’t see any flames coming out. Bits of concrete had hit the street, but nothing too dangerous. People were starting to poke their heads outside their windows and doorways along the apartment row.
“Stay back inside for your own safety.” He shouted as he started towards the entry door as a larger part of the balcony hit the street with a resounding crash. He looked up to see the entire balcony and wall of the penthouse break away. He shouted “Stand Clear” as he moved away from the building.
The parts of the penthouse hit the street like a freight train, the sound was deafening as dust and debris enveloped the street in all directions, coating everything in dust. Tooms pulled out his whistle and gave it three short and three long bursts, the Enforcer signal for backup. He made sure there was no one hurt around the debris, and then moved to the front of the building’s entry point…
Thirty minutes later; Captain Marcus and Sherriff Grayson arrived, in that order (which he noted in his report) and he gave his incredibly detailed report of no injuries to bystanders. People were surprised and shook up of course, but as he told the Sherriff he was here so everything would be alright. Grayson just sort of stared at him before turning and walking into the building as Marcus redirected him outside to keep people back away from the scene and keep an eye out for the Kiramman carriage. He took a post at the head of the street
Was this all part of the Trencher Conspiracy? The Plan to Collapse Piltover to be on level with the Undercity of Zaun??
Nailed it!