Sump Stomping
UNDERCITY: THE LAST DROP; MORNING 1st SHIFT
“I think we got some rum yesterday; can you grab it really quick?” Claggor said over his shoulder to Vi as they prepped the Last Drop for opening. He was currently restocking the bar back, pulling bottles of booze that were near empty or close to half and combining the like alcohols. His sister nodded and padded off to the storeroom, shouting that she’d be right back. He smiled and was pleased that Vi brought shit up from storge with him this morning, and really hoped she didn’t want a confrontation about why he was annoyed. He hated arguments, especially with his sisters and Mylo. He wasn’t happy with her, but he could keep it civil.
Claggor inserted the funnel into the half full rum bottle and started pouring the different rums, filling it to the top and replaced the cork. Vi returned as he replaced the newly filled bottle back on the shelf. She put the wood box on the floor and pulled some of the bottles out. “Looks like two Rums...” She popped out the cork and sniffed it. “Does this one smell right?” And handed it to him. Claggor took the bottle and the cork and smelled it himself. “Upper Shelf.” And put it up, where the ‘good’ booze was. “Was there another?”
“Hold your horses, I gotta find it.” She said, looking through the bottles. “Some of these aren’t labeled.” She pulled out one such container and sniffed. “I…” She looked at the bottle itself. It was a standard clear bottle with a thick gold liquid that had a slightly oily look. She sniffed it again and tipped it to her lips. Claggor leaned on the bar back, his eyebrow raised just over his goggles. “It might be pee... I’ve no idea.” she handed it up to him “It has a kick.” He sniffed it and swished it around watching it in the bottle. “I think it’s Ionian Honey Mead.” He spoke. “Steve’s using it as a mixer for one of his concoctions.” He replaced the cork and put it on the side where the mixers were kept.
She laughed. “He puts pee in the drinks?”
Claggor shook his head. “No, it tastes different when its mixed.” He grabbed a whisky glass and poured a little bit of the honey mead and a bit of whisky and handed it to her. She took the glass and gave it a sniff, raising an eyebrow. Claggor motioned for her to hurry up, looking back to the stairs, and she down the shot. “Oh shit!” Vi said, looking at the glass with a smile. “That did change the taste.”
“Told you.” Claggor said, chuckling. “Steve’s been experimenting with all sorts of drinks and stuff. He takes tending the bar pretty seriously.” He says, grabbing a bottle from the box and putting it on one of the shelves. “Sevika is really into his Boilermakers, has one every night, and Huck and Sherman drink the thing he calls an Ol’ Fashioned.” and puts the last bottle on the top shelf as Vi, still seated, loads the storage under the bar. “I tried it, and it’s kind of sweet whisky with a citrus taste.” Claggor hold his hand out to his sister, who takes it and hefts her up. “Good for people who nurse their drinks.”
“You're picking up all sorts of useful skills” Vi said, grabbing the scrub bucket and starting on the bar top, wiping down the marble top. “You’ll be running this place in no time.”
“Yeah, I like working the bar.” Claggor said. “It feels like I’m doing something for our family, and the family business.” he said, looking over the bar. “We can really do some good for people here, like that woman Avaly.”
“The one that ran off last night?” Vi asks, halfway down the bar top. “You were chasing after her, she takes something?”
“Nah, she came in about pills for her kid. Seems there’s some problems with medication in the Lanes. Vander and Steve are on top of it, which was why we are working the bar this morning.” Claggor said. “She lived down in the Sumps, so She’s got it pretty rough.”
Vi nods. “Maybe I can help, I’ll go check out the Sumps, see what I can find out.”
“I thought you had your ‘meeting’ today.” Claggor said, a little too sarcastically for her liking. She turned from her task. “What’s that all about?”
Claggor stood up and looked around for anyone else around. It was just them. “You know who I mean.” He spoke. He motioned at his eye. “That guy.” he breathed out as she closed her eyes in an attempt to keep her cool and lowered his voice. “I don’t know what he’s having you do, but I’m sure he doesn’t have your best interests in mind.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle, and its good money. I almost have enough money to.” and put a hand up, halting the conversation. “Never mind.”
“Enough money for what, Vi?” Claggor pressed, turning on her. “Cuz I don’t know what would be worth working for a crime boss. You plan on ghosting us, is that it?” He had felt she was distancing herself from all of them for a while, ever since last year. To him it seemed Vi had disconnected from the Lanes and keeping a lot of things to herself. “You’re keeping shit from us, disappearing for days and leaving it up to me to cover for you when Vander asks, and you drag Mylo into your shit
“It’s for Powder, alright?” Vi said. “I bought her some actual books and look how much better her gadgets are. Look how happy she is.” She sighed “How much better she is...” She crossed her arms. “Just imagine how she’d do if she actually got a real education.” Her brother didn’t like to argue, but when he did, he was devastating. “If I could get her a real tutor, or even send her to school she’d be...” She couldn’t even think of the word, but she could feel the sneer creeping up, which was wiped off when he tossed her a bag from his pouch. Vi rolled it in her hand, jingling.
Coins... She looked back up at him, confused...
“If that’s what it's for, then I want in.” he said, leaning back on the counter. Vi deflates and hands it back. “This is for your glasses.” Claggor smirked, pushing it back. "I have glasses.” he said, tapping his goggles. “...and maybe you won’t need to work for the chem-baron.”
“Clagg...” She sighed, rubbing the back of her head, massaging the aching muscles in her neck.
“Just think about it, Ok?” He said, leaning on the counter next to her. “I worry, and so does Powder.”
“What’s Powder worried about?” Steve’s voice filtered through the empty bar as he came down the stairs, looking around the space as if he was searching for something. The Soldier was wearing his armor, and it looked like it had been changed since Vi had worn it a year ago. The under tunic had been dyed dark blue, so it matched the chest. It still had a white star in the center of his chest, but the red and the white around his waist had been painted blue to match the chest. His shield was attached to his back, and he had on all the harnesses and belts. The enforcer pistol was stowed away in the holster.
“Oh, you know Powder, always worried about something.” Claggor chuckled, which Vi looked at her brother with the same skeptical look that Steve had. “Smooth” she mouthed at her brother after Steve shook his head and looked around the back room. “Wasn’t there a Poncho back here?” The soldier yelled from the back.
“What’s a poncho?” Vi shouted back, not exactly sure what he meant. Claggor got back to work setting up the bar, losing interest.
“It’s like a blanket with a head hole.” He shouted back. She could hear him moving things around in the storeroom. “You wear it over your shoulders, keeps you dry and helps if you don’t want attention.”
“Why would you want that?” Vi stood up, her brows knitted.
He stepped out of the back and motioned to his armor. “Then don’t wear it if you don’t want attention.” She said, turning to finish the bar top wipe down. “Why are you in it anyway, I thought you were done with that.”
“I’m going down into the Sumps to check on Avaly’s daughter and pass on the pills to her. Vander suggested that I wear it.” He snapped his fingers and pulled up a canvas tarp. “Here it is.” It was a lighter green canvas that just kind of lived in the bar. It would turn up occasionally and get moved to another place only to be found again somewhere else. Mylo used it to hide under and jump out at Powder when they were younger and did it again with Claggor which didn’t turn out well for her little brother. Steve brought it out to the floor, which caught the kids undivided attention.
He took the tarp and laid it out on the floor. Pulling the knife on his belt, he stabbed at the center, and cutting a hole large enough for his head. Taking a look at his handywork, he got up and tried on his improvised cloak. It draped around and hid his armor and BDU harness. “This should work. Pity I couldn’t figure out a hood.”
“Hold on.” Vi said and ran to the back. Steve looked over to a shrugging Claggor. She came back out front carrying a piece of cloth, the same material as the tarp and a heavy metal rivet punch. “Take that shit off...”
He pulled the poncho off and handed it to her and looked at her brother. Claggor nodded, realizing what she was up to. Vi used the cloth riveter to connect the base of the ‘hood’ to the tarp, and after a few moments, picked up the whole thing and flipped the hood inside out and did another round with the riveter. With a nod, she tossed it back to Steve.
He pulled the poncho on, and fitted the hood, which was voluminous. “This’ll work, Thanks Vi.” He said. “Should have asked you earlier.”
“You should have called it a cloak.” She chuckled, rolling her eyes and finishing the bar top. She took the dry cloth and did a quick polish on the surface. “Cuz that’s what that is. How do you not know that.”
“A cloak is a cape with layers over the shoulder with a hood, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr...” Steve said and closed his eyes. “Never mind, I see where this is going.” He made sure he had everything, and satisfied he hooked his helmet to his belt. “Ok, I should be back later this evening if all goes well. You got this covered, right?”
Claggor nodded, “Yup, me and Vi got this. I showed her where the drink formulas are so she can make your concoctions if anyone asks.” His sister swats him with the bar towel and was rewarded with a yelp. “Take care of business, Steve, were good.”
“Yeah, don’t get lost in the Sumps.” Vi said. “Pity you don’t have someone who used to live down there... Oh wait…”
“I'll be fine, Vi. I appreciate it but Vander wants you here. You and Claggor can have that talk you need to have, just don’t break up the place, ok?” and with that headed towards the back doors and out into the thick morning air. The pair watched him go, both shaking their heads. “We’re good now, right?”
Claggor nodded. “For the most part, I think.” He said, wiping off the last table and grabbing one of the two wide headed brooms. Vi rounded the bar and grabbed the other broom and got to work. She could understand why Claggor had been annoyed with her, she would be too. Tonight, she was supposed to meet with Silco at the Cannery, and she needed to have a conversation about this Finn asshole…
I am not disposable…
AIRSHIP DOXY CODGER: APPROACHING PILTOVER
The sound of the twin motors was a distant thrum, as Garen watched the ocean pass beneath the cargo laden airship. The Crownguard heir had always wanted to try travelling in one of them, and the airship was far faster than travelling by ocean vessel or by rail but not as comfortable. He turned to watch the shoreline on the airships port side, leaning against the reinforced railing as the clean air rushed past. Large cities like Rokrund along with smaller towns and villages along the coast, fishing vessels working their hauls and whenever they passed across the landscape, he could see roads with trade caravans moving along it, peppered with inland small towns, roadhouses and inns that catered to them.
All of it belonged to Noxus.
Everything along this line of terrain belonged to Noxus, and would until they arrived at Piltover. The independent city-state had somehow evaded the Noxian hammer, perhaps because of its status as a trade port, or because of its technological advancements compared to the rest of the civilized world. Would it hurt for Demacia to have a diplomatic foot in Piltover? In all honesty, it was only a matter of time before Noxus decided it needed to have trade port all to itself. It would own the channel that cuts between Valoran and Shurima and control all shipping within the continent. It would own the series of bridges and the Sungates, rather than spend the enormous costs that Piltover charges military vessels to use the east-west passage.
It wasn’t that Demacia needed the trade, he thought, they were independent. Demacia was also isolated. Enemies from Freljord push into their borders, raiders from Shurima and the nearly constant pestering from Noxus. No, attaching Demacia to Piltover was a fool’s errand clear and simple. He was here for the one reason that they made this trip in secret, on a chartered airship out of the sight of the mageseekers and King Jarvin III agents. His parents covered for them and trusted their fates to a Freljordian mage.
“Are we almost there?”
Garen glanced to the sound of his younger sister’s sigh. Luxanna rested her head on her folded arms, leaning across the railing, watching the world pass underneath them. Her ever-present blue hairband barely holding her blond tresses from blowing on the wind.
“Bored already, Lux?” Garen smiled. “Here I thought you’d enjoy the ride. It’s not every Demacian who gets a ride in a blimp.”
Lux rolled her eyes. “It’s an airship, dummy...” The girl stood up, leaned on her elbow. “Rigid metal hull.” She noticed that her big brother was looking at her hands, her heavy gloves in place. “I’m nervous.” She said, shrugging. Garen nodded, the gloves hid her hands when they glowed. It usually started at her fingertips and progressed to her hands as her anxiety rose. At this moment, she was anxious.
“What has you worried.” Garen crossed his arms, “, “It was Loki who wanted to meet in Piltover, out of the purview of the mageseekers or the king’s watchdogs.” He spoke. “This trip is to set up your future lessons with the mage away from Demacia, and maybe enrolment into the Academy.” He suppressed the urge to shudder, he did share his countries views on magic being dangerous, perhaps not to the extent of the Lightshields, but this was his sister. He would do anything for her, in fact he was currently committing treason to keep her safe, as were their parents. If this went wrong, they’d all be dead or in shackles. Lux would be imprisoned, made to drink Petricite cocktail.
For her own good, of course.
“Loki can help, I know it.” Lux said, standing up. “He is a mage of the first order, and he still passed the mageseekers tests without even a blip. He lived with us for weeks and never once exposed himself even with a mageseekers watcher following him around.” She moved across the deck, tapping her chin. “He drank the cocktail voluntarily and did little more than a belch!” Lux spun on her brother. “How! How did he do that! I’d never thought it was possible.”
“I can’t say I know, Lux.” Garen sighed. “But I was impressed, so was Aunt Tianna. This wouldn’t have happened without her cooperation.” he motioned to the airship and turned back out to the ocean. “Loki can’t fail. There is too much riding on getting rid of this magic problem.”
“Problem...” Lux said quietly. “So, by getting rid of the problem is getting rid of me, since magic is part of me...” She draped over the railing. Garen shook his head. “Not what I meant, and you know it.”
“No, I don’t.” She said, not looking at him. “What I hear is hiding the family embarrassment, dumping me in a foreign city and wishing me well so that the Crownguard name can remain unsullied.” Lux shot a look at him. “What If I want to embrace being a magicborne?”
“You’d be hunted, put in a cell, and forgotten. Because of our family name you might be brought into the Mageseekers and forced to hunt others like you.” Garen said, probably more forcefully than he had intended. “The king would denounce our family, maybe even take our lands. I’ll be in prison or executed for hiding an enemy of the state.” He stood straight, his hands on his hips towering over the girl. “It’s a bad situation, maybe as bad as it gets, and it certainly isn’t fair. That’s the reality of it.” Shaking his head, he breathed out his frustration. “If this doesn’t work, Aunt Tianna and Father are courting a marriage between you and Jarvin IV. The royal court would have no choice but to protect you just to save their own skins.”
Lux was dumbstruck, her big brother had never spoken to her like that. She just stared, her shoulders slumped. The realization hit her that she was a problem. A big one. A family crushing problem.
Garen’s face dropped its usual stern countenance, and the soldiers mask was replaced by her kindhearted brother, who laid his hands on her shoulders. “I’d never let anything like that happen to you, you know that right?” Lux shrugged and looked away. They stayed quiet for a while, watching the landscape slide by them. “I should probably get ready to meet the Kirammans, get dressed and presentable.”
“Not a bad idea, I need to do the same. Nobels do love uniforms.” He laughed. Lux didn’t. He watched her head back towards the hatch leading to the staterooms when he saw the gleaming towers before them. “Hey Lux! Come back!” and stepped to the prow of the airship. He could feel Lux join him moments later, and the ‘whoa’ confirmed it. The gleaming glass and golden spires jutting from the land were clearly visible even from this distance. The bridge was the other stand out landmark, a crimson drawbridge that connected the two landmasses between the River Pilt, or was it more of a canal since large steamers and freighters that sat heavy in the water were able to pass through unincumbered. There was some history with that bridge, Lux remembered from her readings, but couldn’t remember off the top of her head.
“For your first international visit, Piltover isn’t so bad, right?” Garen said as they watched the so called City of Progress become larger on the horizon.
She plopped her head on Garens shoulder and sighed. “I’m sorry I’m a problem.” Garen wrapped his arm around her and gave her a side hug. “We’ll figure it out, first let’s see what Loki has planned. Remember, officially you’re here to view the Academy.” Lux nodded, and smirked. “The Kirammans have a daughter around your age, are you going to woo her?”
“Woo her?” Garen laughed, “We aren’t even in Piltover yet and you’re trying to pair me off with someone?”
“Not at all...” she said, standing up, “You’re just an incorrigible flirt.” Lux elbowed him in the side. “You can’t help yourself.”
“I am not!” Garen stood, his arms outstretched. “How could you even suggest such a thing.”
“Because I have eyes, and I have to do something at those royal functions and watching you flirt is entertaining.” She skipped backwards towards the staterooms. “You dance like a drunk poro too...” She squealed as her brother surged forward.
Lord Garen Crownguard, Lieutenant of the 512th Forward Vanguard and Sion of the powerful Crownguard clan chased his sister like any other eighteen-year-old boy who wanted to strangle her.
******
Loki Odinson walked towards the docked airship Doxy Codger as the deck crews finished securing the vessel to the platform and extending the embark ramp for the ships only passengers. Councilor Kiramman kept pace with him, while the good doctor and their daughter trailed behind them at a respectful distance. He would have preferred to have gone by himself, but he had little choice since the Kirammans were housing the Crownguard siblings for the duration of their stay in Piltover.
It may not have been the wisest choice, but he couldn’t expose himself to them, not yet. Maybe not ever. Not if he wanted to live in this world. Loki liked it here, it was as exhilarating as it was terrifying for him. It would have been easy to come here, flex his powers and shout how he had glorious purpose, blah blah blah. He wanted to live, know the people and make mischief. His own little experiments.
Like the undercity girl whom he gave the rune to. That had turned out incredibly well.
“I shall have some footmen attend to their baggage, Professor. The Crownguards can simply enjoy the ride through the city.” Cassandra said, glancing at the him. He smiled and gave a nod.
“I appreciate that, Counsellor. This is their first time outside of the confines of their country...” He said, then added. “I don’t count Noxian battlefields of course.”
“Young Garen?” She looked at Loki, and eyebrow raised. “I regret to say I’m not as familiar with the details of Demacian military practices other than the broadest sense.”
“He was a soldier at the age of twelve, as was Prince Lightshield. They served together in several campaigns since then. Luxanna is considering an education in political sciences and other interests here in Piltover rather than serving in the military. She just turned of age.”
“That could make things uncomfortable, I wager.” Cassandra said, looking towards the airship, still no sign of the Crownguards. That seemed so young to fight in a war, she couldn’t even imagine the circumstances that would lead Caitlyn to bear arms against an enemy now, let alone when she was twelve. Demacians were a different people than Piltovans, that was certain.
“You would win that bet, Counsellor.” Loki said as they approached the red line, the safe distance parameter for the docked airship. “I spent time in Demacia, and I found them a warm, kind people who would do well to be less isolationist, in my opinion.” he said. “My brother and I were welcomed into the Crownguards home and treated as honored guests rather than Freljordian interlopers.” Or Asgardians princes, but that he’d keep to himself.
Cassandra nodded. “You're championing them makes sense now, Professor.” she brushed her crushed velvet sleeve of her day coat. “You are not wrong that Piltover can always use more allies, especially those who have kept Noxus and bay.”
“I do have concerns how they well react to Counsellor Merdarda, I admit.” Loki rubbed his chin. “They are both bright enough to accept new ideas presented to them, such as a Merdarda who won't stab them in the back.”
“Well, not with a knife in any case.” Cassandra stated, crossing her arms as the Crownguard heirs stepped onto the gangplank, and began descending to the platform. Garen wore a version of the Demacian Military uniform, white high collared jacket with gold buttons and blue trousers with a white stripe up the side and round service hat with a brim and high boots. His sister wore a version of the uniform, High collard with blue legging and high boots with without the military affectations. Cassandra was surprised that Garen Crownguard wasn’t much older than Caitlyn.
“Professor Odinson.” Garen stepped up to the pair and gave the teacher a nod. “Madam Counsellor.” He turned to Cassandra. “On behalf of the House Crownguard, thank you for your hospitality. Allow me to offer my services as needed while we are here to repay our debt to you.”
“Thank you, Lord Crownguard. On behalf of House Kiramman welcome to Piltover.” She smiled brightly. “It is our intention to make your stay as comfortable as possible.”
Garen motioned for his sister. “Lady Luxanna Crownguard.”
“I like Lux, actually, if it's not too informal.” Lux said, a small smile crossing her face. Cassandra nodded and returned the smile. “Not to informal at all, this is Doctor Kiramman and our daughter Caitlyn.” Motioning to Tobias and Caitlyn who held her hand out.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lux...” and leaned forward. “You did say Lux, yes?”
“Indeed!” The girl smiled, a little more brightly and after a moment of hesitation shook her hand “sorry about the gloves…”
Caitlyn nodded, “I understand, my hands break out in hives when I’m nervous as well.” She whispered. Lux smiled brighter in thanks, it was as good a reason as any. The Kiramman girl was a kind person, Lux could tell. Garen stepped next to the pair, finishing his greeting with Tobias. “A pleasure Lord Crownguard.”
“Garen, please.” He smiled, beaming at her. “We will, after all, be housemates for a time.”
“Oh. Of course...” Caitlyn nodded, as Loki motioned the party towards the awaiting carriages. “I believe we should release the Aeroport back to the air marshals, we can carry on at the estate.” and with that, the group began moving towards the Aeroports street access.
“Such a flirt...” Lux whispered, nudging him with her elbow...
THE SUMP: THE SLUMS LATE 2nd SHIFT
He had never imagined how bad it was.
Steve had seen the aftermath of the Nazi’s bombing campaign all over Europe, and the destruction of open warfare in the cities and landscape across the region. This was something else.
The air was thick, burned his throat and when he first stepped into the Sump level felt lightheaded. Fortunately, his body adjusted to the Grey fairly quickly much like it did when he first arrived in the Undercity. From what he understood, the Grey that often rolls into the Entresol and the Promenade sourced from the Sump. In the Sump, it was constantly exhuming from the fissures, making it a constant way of life here. Regardless, people still lived here.
Were they thriving? Steve couldn’t say but they were surviving in the most horrid conditions a person could do so, some by choice but most out of necessity. There were a lot more Bat Vastaya here then he expected and wondered if they were the Chirean that he’d read about, but mostly they were humans eking out an existence. Vander had told him that most of the miners lived down here with their families. They trudged out of the homes before the second shift, and crawled home after third shift was half over.
They breathed the air, worked for slave wages, and generally perished well before they were forty. They either died in an accident or of lung rot. Vander and Benzo had been miners in worse conditions than these people had from what he understood, though it was hard to imagine. The structures they lived in ranged from lean-to canvas and wood tents to more permanent buildings created from the remains of the buildings that had collapsed down.
There were a lot of building materials if you knew how to use them. It looked like entire brownstones had been disassembled and rebuild into new edifices that people were living in. There was also a lot of the brick and mortar that survived whatever cause the sink hole that swallowed an enormous section of Piltover, even the original brass fittings on a few of the doors survived and being used. Metal and steel structures that had been here since the entire city had collapsed into the sinkhole still existed and were the prime real estate down here...
Steve walked through one of the alleys on his way to Avaly’s brother Roman’s squat, avoiding the river of people moving along the narrow streets somewhere near the Black Lanes markets off the merchant quarter. Graffiti covered the brickwork, and he had to admire the artistry in the wall art. Some of them were sweeping waves of wind stating Janna’s returns while others were gang tags that showed the symbol of an eye, and that he was coming.
The one that stopped him was the drawing of the two people, one pink and one blue. The pink wore blue armor with a white star and a shield, while the blue held a crowbar. Both the characters had fearsome expressions on their faces and skeletons surrounding them. The pair had a golden hue surrounding them, and the words Janna’s Grace scrawled across the bottom.
Vi and Powder were being presented as heroes, brandishing his Shield and armor. Steve grinned, he couldn’t agree more, they were heroes...
“Hungry...”
Steve looked down, and a man crawled out of an outcropping near a trash can, holding his hand out. He looked sick, horribly thin with grey skin. Black veins webbed around his eyes, temples and chest. Was he a shimmer addict? He held his hand out to the man and kneeled down to his level. It was the least he could do. The man groveled, grasping his hand. “I’m so hungry...”
“I can bring you some food…” Steve looked around, remembering the food cart. It would be a temporary solution, one meal wouldn’t help him, though if nothing else it might give him some relief for a short time. Steve stood and went to the food cart and paid for two pieces of meat on a stick. What the meat had been was something he didn’t want to think about, as he’s learned from living here that if you cook it long enough it was safe to eat. He’d had the same thought about Army rations too. He brought the food and sat with the man while he ate, “Did Shimmer do this to you?”
“The purple makes me strong, and I’m not afraid...” The man sobbed, ripping the meat from the stick. Was this how Avaly thought? Did she take it to feel strong? Steve nodded, and in short order Steve was on his way again and the man was eating one of the two Meat on a Sticks provided to him. The man’s face showed gratitude, but the soldier knew that he needed more than that to set him right.
Steve followed the instructions that Avaly had given him to Roman’s squat, and he believed that he found it. It was a small brick and canvas construct with a corrugated metal roof. It was between the water tower and the support clock tower that creaked incessantly. Ol creaky, he assumed. He’d found it. He approached the Canvas door and knocked on the wood support that held up the brick.
“Hello?” Steve said, hoping someone was there. He knocked again. “I’m looking for Kavia.”
A woman, on the youngish side, pulled back the canvas enclosure. She was small, with the same haunted look most of the Sump dwellers seemed to have. She looked at him blankly, and he chose to ignore the cudgel in her right hand. “Kavia ain’t for you to talk to, so what’s your business...”
“Avaly sent me, I have pills for her daughter.” Steve told her, to which the dull eyed woman just began closing the canvas. Had he gotten it wrong? This was the squat between the two landmarks. He stepped back to get a better look at his surroundings. The canvas parted again, and a man with a beard showed his face. “Avaly sent you?” the man stated. “She was supposed to bring pills two day ago, did she shimmer the cogs?”
“Can we talk about this inside?” Steve said, noticing that he was starting to draw attention. He was wearing the cloak Vi had helped him make, but he still stood out. The woman looked him up and down and nodded moving back the canvas for him to enter. Once inside, the woman snarled at him to pull his hood back, which he did wordlessly. She scoffed, and muttered “Nomad Trash…”
Warm welcome so far.
“Roman, Avaly sent a ‘scraper with pills.” The woman said and pointed to the back of the sizable shack. They had found a collapsed building and rebuilt it into a livable space, using the buildings back wall as the base. Brick and wood were held together with mud and other materials, and thick canvas worked as room dividers. The woman motioned him towards the back, as a man stepped out behind a canvas curtain. He had the same hair color as Avaly, and similar deep sent eyes. He looked exhausted and regarded him with suspicion. Trust wasn’t something this man gave out freely. He was a mass of corded muscle and sinew, the look of someone who works a back breaking job with not enough food.
“My sister sent you. With Pills? Why.” he said, moving towards him. “Why you?” Steve kept the woman with the bat in him sight as well. She was eyeing him, sizing him up as a threat or a mark.
“I work with the Hound.” Steve used the name Vander was known by, as Avaly had and hoped that would be enough explanation. “Your sister went to him for help, and he sent me with pills for Kavia.” He fished in his equipment pouch and pulled out the glass bottle and rattled the pills Tobias had supplied.
“That’s a Pilty bottle, Stranger...” and held his hand out, and Steve put it in his hand. Roman pulled the cork off the top and shook a couple of the pills out, scrutinizing them to the point of licking it. “Yeah... yeah, these are them...” The man’s shoulders relaxed, as if a giant weight was taken off of them. “These will help. You steal these?” The man waved him to join before he could answer.
Steve stepped behind the canvas separation and saw the girl whom the pills were for. Kavia was about six years old, maybe a bit younger than that. She has short rough-cut hair and a simple dress that looked made from old linen and wool. She was playing on the raised bed with a stuffed mermaid, her hand shaking uncontrollably. She looked up, her eyes slightly crossed as her head had similar tremors as her hands. A smile crossed her face and waved a shaky hand at him. Steve waved back, his own smile on his face.
Roman took one of the pills out of the bottle and took out his tool knife. Placing the pill on a metal mirror, he cut the medicine in two, and put half back in the bottle. Kavia watched him as he brought the pill and a flask and sat next to her. “This stranger brought you your pills...” and the child dutifully opened her mouth with an audible AHHHHH.
Roman put the pill on her tongue and gave her the flask, to which she washed the medicine down. “Will half a pill help her?” though he already knew the answer. Memories of his own mother, wasting away and him having to give her half a pill or a quarter of the dosage of the syrup so Sarah Rogers would get some relief.
“It will enough, and she will have double the amount.” he said, caressing her head. “We will have enough for a bad onset, then I give her a whole one.” And turned his attention back to the girl. “You go to sleep when you can ok?”
“Med’cin makes me sleepy.” She grinned and played with her mermaid, Steve could already see her eyes beginning to straighten. The medicine worked fast even at a half a dose.
“We will have some soup when you wake up.” Roman smiled and motioned for Steve to leave the back room. The girl nodded, still bouncing the stuffed toy around the bed. Once outside, Roman turned him on. “How much does this cost us.”
“Vander covered it.” Steve said simply. Roman nodded, closing his eyes. “Tell Vander thank you and let him know he has Roman’s support.”
The woman scoffed again. “The Hound lost his teeth and doesn’t come here no more. Don’t deserve your support uncle.” He patted her cudgel. “Forgotten his roots. Fat and Happy on the Entresol after the bridge massacre.” She surged forward, the club ready to bash his head in. “IT’S NOT RIGHT!” Steve knew he could take the cudgel from her, easily but he let her release the built-up pressure. She wasn’t going to strike him, but she did give him a good jab in the stomach.
“Tegan, enough...” Roman scolded. “The man just did us a favor, he didn’t have to come down here, but he did.” Roman turned back to Steve as Tegan puffed out an angry snort. “Thank Vander for us, and maybe remind him that we are down here.” Tegan rolled her eyes. “You didn’t even go with them cuz you knew it was a waste of time. I was a thirteen and I knew it was a waste of time.”
Roman shook his head. “I didn’t go because someone had to work, to make washers for us.” He said. “The mines weren’t going to stop for some peaceful protest. Enforcers weren’t going to stop enforcing because of a peaceful protest and gangs weren’t going to stop…”
“I get it uncle…” Tegan waved him off. “Truth is he left us behind, the Hound wandered off came back with no teeth.”
“You think he’s abandoned you?” Steve said, finding it hard to believe that the man he knew would abandon anyone. It just didn’t seem his nature. Vander seemed to care about everyone, never turns anyone away who needs him. At least that was his experience. Maybe he’d never met the Hound.
“He changed when he took those girls in, Ol’ Sasha and Eno’s pups.” Tegan said, calmer. “After that he was less and less present, left things lay too long till they mold, too late to pick up again. Don’t throw your lot into his, Nomad.”
Roman sighed. “She’s not wrong, stranger.” Crossing his arms. “After the bridge he’s never showed his face down here more than a couple times in the past seven years, but people still live here, now people are like Avaly doing anything for washers. Testing drugs for the chem sellers, target practice for the mage-born wizards from the Dredge all the while the rest of the Sumps are trying to get to the next day. They Eye does more down here, and he’s testing his shimmer on us.”
If I see a situation going south, I can’t ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could…
“Well, let's see if we can rectify that.” Steve said, pulling his hood up over his head. He needed more information, more answers and at this moment, he had fulfilled his mission. Only to find another one. “I promise you, I will be back.” And with that moved out of the Roman’s Squat…
*****
Avaly crouched down as the blond man stepped out of the squat, her niece Tegan stepping out of the doorway to watch him walk off down the street into the grey. He had done what she had asked, the blond man brought the pills to her baby. Good for her, bad for him. Two vials of Shimmer from the Eye were hers, so long as she did what the robed woman asked. Avaly looked back to the squat and didn’t see where Tegan went. Eh, she was nineteen and smart enough to keep herself alive, just so’s she didn’t follow the bartender.
She fished in her bra and pulled out the parchment and looked at it for a moment. He helped her kid, brought her the medicine. Avaly didn’t know what the robed people wanted with the blond man, but it didn’t matter, she had agreed. She did this, she got the shimmer.
She put the parchment to her mouth, like the Robed woman said, and said the name…
After she remembered it…
The parchment flashed in blue fire, surprising her enough to step back as another burst of air and a flash behind her made her spin around. The Robed one was there, along with another Robed figure. He was much taller, but the same gold eyes shown out of the hood.
“You found him?” Zora Reez stated, the taller figure leaning forward to listen. Avaly pointed the direction that the blond man went. “He headed t’wards the Black Lanes, but he’s in the tide of the crowd now.”
Takjir Reez leaned forward. “Find a friend and follow us.” He said to the Trencher. Avaly shook her head. “I did my part, Robe...” She said, backing away. “No need of me now.”
Zora held out her hand and exposed six vials of Shimmer. “This is enough to keep you for a while, but your job is over if you only want the two...” and four of the vials were snatched from her hand by the taller man. Avaly licked her lips. Six vials will keep her for a good while, maybe enough to make some money. Take some money… She’d be strong…
“I'll find someone...” and scurried away, leaving Takjir and Zora alone.
“Follow the soldier, I will bring our addicts.” He said, with a smirk. “I have what they need.” Pulling out the two large vials of Shimmer he saved for this occasion. Zora grinned and nodded, holding out her hand for a bat to attach itself to her arm. With a whisper, the creature fluttered off, with Zora chasing after it leaves Takjir alone…
Bardin Ray Cannery Factory: The Undercity Docks
Vi approached the Cannery with far less anxiety than she had the first time she came here. Deckard and his gang of idiots escorted her that time, like rabid dogs anticipating a kill. Waiting for her to bolt and run so they could chase her down and probably end her. Deckard had an irrational hatred towards her, which she was fine with so long as it didn’t spill over to the people she cared about. She could deal with that. Maybe she even deserved it, as she’d sent him away in far worse condition than she was in. They had it coming. They left Mylo for dead in an alley, the only reason she even found him was Powder watched from the distance. She didn’t try to help, which Vi was glad for. They would have beat her too, or worse.
She didn’t want to think about worse.
Mek was leaning on a stack of palates, dressed in his usual vest and tie, when he saw her heading towards the building and stood up motioning for her to approach. The usual procedure, you wander around until the lookout said it was clear, then he motioned you and let you in after they made sure you weren't packing. Apparently, the coast was clear as he motioned her forward strait away. Without a word, Mek double tapped the door and someone from the inside pulled the door open.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust from the brighter light from outside and what passed for sunlight on the lower docks and walked through towards the stairs that led to the observation floor. Vi had been here enough times that she was considered trusted enough that she didn’t need an escort to meet the boss. While she sauntered through the cannery, she went over in her head the events at Glasc Industries, and the Slickjaws presence there. The gang fell under the umbrella of Silco’s syndicate, that much she knew, and the crime boss did a lot of business with Renata Glasc. It would make sense that one of his lieutenants would or could be present.
Lock looked up from his soup at her as she took the last few steps and, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, stood up.
“Hey Pink, Boss is expecting you.” The large, tattooed man said, unlocking the door. “Doctors in there as well, just so’s you know.”
“Thanks, Big, ‘preciate it!” She grinned and passed by with a pat on the shoulder. “He’s in a good mood?”
“Seems so, as good as he gets.” and swung the door open, allowing Vi to enter. The room hadn’t changed since the last time she was in here, the giant observation window was still the center point, and the doctor’s workbench to the right side of the room. Silco kept a desk on the left side of the room, though it wasn’t his usual office, it was where he got the most work done according to him. He held a space upstairs in the old Bardin Bay executive offices, but preferred working down here. She could understand that, this was where all the real work was being done, where he could be the most use. Made sense.
He looked towards her as Lock closed the door and stood. “Ah, Violet. Good to see you.” The lean man walked towards her, what passed for a smile pasted on his scarred face. “I hear good things from Renata. You gave her some bonus materials in that file.”
Vi shrugged. “I had a couple more minutes and found another line of information while I was getting her shit, so I snatched it.” She crossed her arms. “They were in a burn pile, so probably never got noticed. Hope she was happy with the work.”
“She was quite pleased.” Silco said, searching his pockets for a cigar. “How long was your stake out.”
“A few hours, nothing big. Needed to see how they moved around. Got in with the slop crew at the Vix and got out clean.”
He nodded. “Miss Glasc sang your praises and requested you for future endeavors if you were able. The right person for the right job was her quote.” Silco moved next to her, laid his hand on her shoulder, and held out a bag of cogs. “I added a small bonus of appreciation.”
She took the bag and stashed it as Silco walked over to the Doctors desk. The bald man gave her a nod, his beady eyes watching her intently as the crime boss picked up two books and turned to her, extending it. “For little Powder.”
Vi took the thick books, turning it over in her hand. “Advanced Energy Dynamics...” She read the cover and looked at the other. “Applied Physics. Pow devours these... Thank you.” She couldn’t help but smile. Every book she gets, she gets better. More confident. She opened one, flipped through the pages and noticed there were less dog-eared notes in this tome. “This one is recent.”
“It is a current Textbook used at Piltover Academy, designed to prepare for University level study.” The Doctor said, his voice a stark contrast to the scarred man. “I couldn’t have one of the brightest minds of Zaun receiving outdated knowledge.” Silco said, leaning on the doctor’s desk. Vi closed the book, and breathed out her anxiety as she slid the books into her shoulder satchel, wondering if she should mention Finn.
Yeah, she should
“The Slickjaws were in Glasc’s offices. I real sleazy looking one named Finn was sitting there when I did the drop off.” she said, keeping herself calm. “I really wanted to punch his smug face. I didn’t.”
“He threatened you?” Silco said, flatly.
“He said I was disposable.” She stated. “Or rather he said Silco’s pet thief was disposable.” Vi fished inside her shoulder bag and fetched out the card. “He gave me this. Well, the receptionist did. I’m pretty sure she was a Slickjaw too, same tatts.” She handed Silco the card, who glanced it over and handed it back.
Silco nodded and stubbed out the cigar. “I’ll have a word with him, it seems. Did he say what work he wanted you to do?” She shook her head. “She mentioned my family, especially Powder, like ‘say hi to miss Powder’ or some shit.”
“Glasc’s receptionist?” He asked. Vi nodded.
“Be careful around Finn, Violet. He isn’t for you to cross lightly.” Silco warned. “He’s ambitious, vain and very quick to take offense. Working for them would be lucrative, and just as dangerous.” Vi nodded. “I'll watch my ass.” but the word lucrative caught her attention. Lucrative could work for her. Maybe she would reach out.
Silco nodded “I won’t have anything for you for a while.” He said, moving across to his desk. “Take some time for yourself. Perhaps help your little brother with his lockpicking, your next task may have need of his skills.” With that, he waved a general farewell, his way of saying the meeting was over. She could appreciate it.
Vi nodded and was glad she didn’t have to ask for some time away and was pleased that the next job might include Mylo. He’s been asking her if he was going to be needed any time soon to which she’d tell him to keep practicing his lockpicking. She knew he was working on his sleight of hand, pickpocketing and fast snatching and was making some nice progress. She looked over at Silco who had taken up his papers and began going over them. It was time to go.
“Miss Violet, if you have a moment.”
The Doctor leaned forward and held out a piece of paper. “If Miss Powder is of a mind you say, then I am afraid that there will come a time that old Textbooks will no longer offer stimulation. She is a creative child, yes?”
“Very...” Vi said, stepping closer to the desk. The man creeped her out, and she really didn’t want to know what fucked up shit he was into. She ignored the real reason Silco kept him around. “So, you're saying that she will lose interest?”
“I am saying that she may have knowledge of how things work, but not why things work.” He paused, thinking of a decent analogy. “Anyone can throw a punch, but you have to learn how to fight. Does that make sense to you?”
“I get it, you think she needs a tutor.”
“A mentor. On this paper is the name and contact information of a young loner who had aided me in my work years back. He now is an educated man working at Piltover University.”
“A Pilty?”
“He is a Zaunite, as you are. He couldn’t find stimulation for his mind, so he snuck his way into the University and disguised himself as a student until he was discovered by the dean.” The Doctor said. “Heimerdinger hired him on the spot as his assistant.” Vi took the paper from him and looked at it.
Viktor
Greenwich Street
Bungalow 2122
“You think this man will help her?”
“He was a kind boy, too kind for the work I was doing. He will push her to greatness if I know Viktor.” The Doctor said. “He will take some convincing, but If you get him on your side, he will do well by her.” He leaned back. “To be honest, it may be something that will bring his talented mind back to the lanes, rather than Piltover.” He went back to his work. “I suppose I am selfish that way...”
Vi nodded, and stuffed the paper into her satchel, and walked towards the way out. She was leaving with a lot of things on her mind, more than she liked colliding with each other as Lock escorted her back onto the street. “Don’t be a stranger, Pink. Let me know if you want some extra cogs. Always someone need straightening out.”
She nodded and waved him off as she walked out into the evening sea air of the lower docks...
THE SUMP: THE BLACK LANES LATE 2nd SHIFT
Steve walked through the densely crowded area referred to as the Black Lanes, which accommodated the seedier side of the undercity and Piltover. It was colorful, each booth or shop sported a cacophony of color and bright lanterns and chem-lamps, with raucous music and hawkers drawing attention to each individual stalls. He paused by several, one sold Noxian armor, Demacian gun blades and Bilgewater pepperboxes while others sold Chemtech attachments and augments, even offering to attach them to the purchaser for a reduced price.
The lamps made sense since sunlight never came down here and when it did, it filtered through the smog. Between the thick undiluted pollution from the fissures and the chemical fumes from the sumps, the grey made it look like thick fog, and difficult to breathe easily.
His chest burned, but his enhanced body managed the poisons that filled his lungs with each breath far better than the average person, but he could feel the slight light headedness of the tainted air. Most of these people lived in it day in and day out. It was no wonder the lives of the Zuanites that lived down here were cut short. He wondered how long Roman had before the conditions here made him too sick to work, or how long Tegan would have before she began to succumb to the air. What would come of Kavia.
They were just one family down here, there were probably thousands of stories just like that, or even more dire.
He had to do something, he just honestly wasn’t sure what…
“Oy, Nomad!” One of the hawkers called to him. “Shuriman Cudgels over here, buy or sell!” Steve stepped over to the man advertising the shops wares. “You called me nomad?”
“Aye, you are, yes? You look one with the drapey cloak and hood, and many Shuriman raiders make their way to the Black Lanes.” The bald man with the bowler hat stated. “If not, my apologies and accept a slight but acceptable discount...”
“It’s the second time someone referred to me as a nomad, so I just wondered why. Thanks.” Steve said and turned to walk off. “Of course! That will be four washers!”
“What?” Steve turned back, his eyebrow raised. “For what exactly?”
“Information!” The bowler man grinned, showing one metal shod tooth. “Most valuable commodity in the Lanes.”
Steve nodded and fished in his pouch and pulled out a full cog. “You see everything down here, right?”
“I see most things, yeah...” Bowler said, his eyes fixed on the cog. “I know people who see things I don’t.” Steve nodded and pressed the cog into his palm. “I may need someone who sees everything.”
“Parseval, go by Parsy..” and tucked the cog into his breast pocket. “Good business to you.” And motioned his chin behind him. “That girl been watching you for my whole eyeshot.” Parsy said, motioning him to the sales table. The surface was covered with all forms of nick-nacks and chem based objects that included several heavy looking cudgels. “I think you’ll like this mirror.” And handed him the shined metal surface that he pulled from under the table. Steve brought it up admiring it, and the reflection over his shoulder.
“The one in the robe?” She wore a dark grey robe, but he could see glowing yellow eyes from beneath the hood.
Parsy nodded. “That’s her, In the dredge robe.”
“Dredge robe?” Steve asked, putting the mirrored surface back on the table. “Buncha strange coming from the Dredge prison these days, she’s one’em.” He said. “Traipsing around the sumps like they own the place. Word is thaiz testing on the addicts around here. Redcap and that new’un, Shiver...”
Steve had heard the of the prison mine from Vander a few times, a place where people didn’t just walk out of as you, please. It had a high mortality rate, being sent there was a place you weren’t supposed to come back from. Steve pulled out a few more washers and laid them on the table. “For your trouble.” Parsy grinned wide as the four coins were nowhere to be seen, and snapped his fingers “Shimmer, that’s it's called.”
Steve nodded and turned back to the throughfare, his eye on the shape in the robe. She had a bat attached to her forearm, apparently whispering to it. The creature suddenly dropped off her arm and flew off into the grey, as she regarded him with gold eyes...
“The man from nowhere...” Another voice came from behind him and was surprised to see the mage from the year prior in Piltover when he turned towards it. His gold eyes shown from under his hood, similar to the woman, who was watching the pair of them from her vantage point against the wall. He pulled his hood back, no doubt to ensure Steve knew who he was. The same black dreadlocks flowing over his shoulder as a sneer crossed his face. “You caused me a lot of grief, Stranger.” Steve squared himself off, keeping the robed woman in his peripheral vision as the man dropped is hands to his side. “I lost respect with my peers because you got a lucky hit. That won't happen again.”
“I remember you, from Piltover.” Steve said, his hands on his hips. “One of your peers caused serious harm to some close friends of mine...” he began moving towards the man, who watched him, that sneer still plastered on his face. “As I remember, you were hiding behind dirty Enforcers.”
“Your friends brought about Urnst’s demise. Imagine that; Trenchers murdering a noble Mageborne. I should rain fire on all of them...” He smiled and rubbed his beard. “Perhaps after you’ve been dealt with.” Steve watched as the robed woman moved more into his view. He could hear a disturbance behind him, exclamations, and warnings to get out of the way. Dreadlocks was the distraction. Steve reached back for his….
Pain of sudden impact rattled his brain in a blur of purple and white, barely registering the sound of the animal squeal mixed with the human scream as he felt himself crashing into one of the booths, the ramshackle structure collapsing on top of him. His vision blurred as he tried to keep consciousness as everything began to go black…
******
Steve? STEVE!
He must have his head harder than he thought...
Steve get UP!
“Peggy?” he said aloud, shaking his head, trying to the clear his mind. He got hit hard enough he’s imagining Peggy’s voice.
You heard me?? STEVE, you can hear me??
It was Peggy’s voice, she was talking to him, that she heard him? In his mind’s eye, he can see her, peering at him like she was looking through a hole. “I can… hear you...” He tried to move, but his body wasn’t ready yet. Force through it... “Where are you?”
You need to hurry Agent Carter, I will not be able to hold the connection long.
I’m in a place called Kamar-Taj in Napal, I’ve been looking for you for over a year. Ancient One says you not on Earth.
The other persons voice had an accent, one he thought had a Gaelic lilt to it. At least his rattled brain had an imagination to it. Not only was he hearing the voices of the woman he had fallen for, but someone with an accent. No, this wasn’t a hallucination, he knew that voice too well, and the desperation in Peggy’s tone stabbed his heart. This was real. As real as the screams and the sounds of destruction from the booths, mixed with the sounds of the monsters shrieks.
You have seconds…
DON’T LOSE HIM! Dammit... I don’t know what those things are, but its strong and fast!
“Yeah, Yeah.. I know...” he said, getting his arms under him, and pushed himself up. He was fortunate that the shield was on his back and absorbed the kinetic energy of the collapsing stall. Steve felt the timber shift away. “Wait... you can see me?” he grunted as he cleared himself from the wreckage.
We found you once, Steve, we’ll find you again! I won't give up, so you don’t either, got it Soldier!
“Got it...”
*****
His head was starting to clear like waking up from a bad dream, as was his vision. He reached back and pulled his helmet off his harness and shoved it on his head and pulled his shield off his back and stood up to see the scene.
People were running in every direction, trying to get away from the three creatures while others were being slaughtered trying to either defend themselves or their wares as the monsters rampaged. The three were human shapes, but grotesquely proportioned to a point of being unrecognizable as human. Their skin was purple with incandescent veins and eyes, and it looked like glowing purple fluid was leaking out of them. These were shimmer monsters, the ones that Sevika had spoken of. Monsters spawned from overdoses of Shimmer... Bodies of people who had been shopping moments before in the black market bazaar were laid along the street like toys that had been thrown around in a tantrum by spoilt children, several of the merchant booths were destroyed.
They were indiscriminate with their attacks, grabbing anyone within their reach and either crushing them in their grips, or smashing them into the ground or using them to smash into the structures... He didn’t see the two mages, but he knew they were still around. They didn’t seem the type to miss the show.
Laying in the street was one of the weapons Parsy had been selling at his booth, a good-sized sledgehammer. That could be useful. A plan was forming. Was it a good one? That remained to be seen.
Let's face it Rogers, you're making this up as you go, he thought as he held his Shield at the ready.
“HEY! OVER HERE!” He shouted, waving his arms “Remember ME!”
Two of them turned and snarled dropping who ever they had been punishing.
Steve leaped into the street and let his Shield fly with a left body spin to give the discus the force it needed, angled to strike two closest and snatched up the sledge from where it was laying. The Shield hit the shirtless one with one monstrous arm in the head, staggering him back then ricochets off and hits the grotesquely swollen one next to him, the one with the black vest. It seems to do no real damage, other than annoy them and knock them off balance.
Well, for what it was worth, Steve had their complete and undivided attention. Glowing slobber shook from their mouth as they screamed and surged forward.
He caught the Shield and streaked forward, closing the distance between the two mutants as they rushed towards him, one more coordinated than the other. Vest was the first to strike, throwing a wild swipe which Steve dodged under and careful to keep Vest between him and Shirtless. He brought the hammer around and smashed the knee of Vest and brought the Shield up barely in time to block the second windmill attack from Vest, absorbing the kinetic energy from the strike. He smashed the edge of the Shield under the chin of Vest, following up with another hit with the sledge to the side of the head.
Shirtless knocked Vest out of the way and smashed into Steve with the force of a freight train sending him flying again, but this time he rolled back onto his feet and launched himself back at the rampaging addict, the soldiers bringing the sledgehammer smashing up into the monstrous face under the chin. Shirtless stumbled back, allowing Steve to smash the hammer into the creature’s head a second time, and followed with smashing the edge of the Shield into the bridge of his nose spraying glowing fluid and black ichor as shirtless hit the ground. The soldier rolled to his feet, and assessed the situation…
Shirtless was unconscious, or at least neutralized as he was no longer moving while Vest was standing up again, the broken knee giving him an awkward stance as he dragged it behind him as he moved forward. Slowed but still a threat. Where was the female one, she just dissa…
Nope, she came screaming out of the alley…
Steve dodged back from the wild strikes of the mutated woman, snarling, and spitting purple fluid as she howled, foaming at the mouth. She lunged again, which Steve the sidestepped the wild attack and smashed her side with the edge of the shield several times, knocking her off her feet, glowing goo shooting from her mouth. She curled into a ball and began vomiting purple foam.
The Shield began vibrating wildly, something that caught him by surprise. He’d never had it to that before, though Vi said when she used it against the Mage attacked…
He brought up the Shield just in time to reflect a blast of magic energy away, hitting Vest in the chest, leaving a sizzling hole and the Shimmer monster in a heap on the street. The mage released more blasts, hitting the Shield and redirecting them into the ground leaving deep scores as Steve dived to cover in the alley. Rolling up onto his feet, he took position at the edge of the wall, listening to
“You are quite the combatant, Stranger.” Steve peeked around the corner, and could see the man scanning the area, along with the girl he remembered looking around behind him. He considered using the enforcer pistol, but there were too many people in the area hiding behind their booths. Too much of a chance he could hit one of them by accident. Now he wished he had his .45. “Three Shimmer’d, and you didn’t break a sweat...”
“Trust me, I’m sweating.” Steve retorted, keeping his eye on him. “Let's take this somewhere quieter, nobody else needs to get hurt.”
He could hear the man laugh. “Why do I care if some Trencher Trash ends up dead. We’d be doing the Runeterra a favor.” He said, as Steve looked up, and a new plan was forming. The second story of the building had a solid looking roof that stretched all the way across to the mages, and it was flat enough that he should be able to cross without being seen.
Sliding the Shield on his back, he leapt up and grabbed the edge of the building, pulling himself up and on the metal roof. He moved as quietly as he could, looking down and seeing the three shimmer’d laying unmoving in the street among their victims.
“Go Fuck yourself Pilty!” He heard someone he thought might be Parsy shout out at him. “You can’t Kill all of us!” Good, Parsy made it.
“Yeah, go back to the rock you crawled out under Topsider!” He saw another Vendor give him the thumbs up as others along the street began verbally abusing the mages, throwing rocks or cheap merchandise at them.. They were distracting the pair of mages, so it was best not to waste it. Steve moved across the roof, slowly and as quietly as he could on a corrugated metal surface.
“We’re from the Serpent Isles, not Piltover Fool.” The girls voice shouted out, incensed. “Piltover will benefit from the Black Orchid’s cleansing fire that Zaun will, and soon we will meet with our Mageborne brothers and sisters in Demacia and Shurima and this world will once again belong to magic!!” The mage exclaimed “Zora!” as if she said more than she should have. She jolted, realizing what she had done.
He would remember those names. Zora, Black Orchids and their Mage Borne brothers and sisters. Steve was over them and pulled his pistol, leapt down, smashing the Shield edge first into the ground behind them...
A shockwave from the Vibranium Shield impact was enough to push the pair off balance, if by nothing else just by shear surprise. The Shields stored kinetic energy dispersed as Steve leveled the revolver on them, hammer pulled back. The man was one twitch from having a hole in his head.
“Move and your dead.” Steve said flatly, “Especially your hands. Keep those hands flat on the ground both of you.” He looked at their faces closely for the first time since last year. The man was young, maybe a little younger than him and the girl was around Vi’s age. The man had a look of shear disdain, and he could tell he was weighing his options of attack. The girl Zora looked mortified by her actions and was glancing wildly around, looking for a way out. Zaunites started coming out from their hiding spaces and from behind their stores, carrying cudgels, knives, and anything else they could find to do bodily harm. Parsy rushed forward, carrying the bat he had offered Steve earlier.
“Good fight, Nomad!” the man said, “Let us have a couple hits before you shoot them.” which the growing crowd roared in approval. “Let's Teach the Robes not to mess with us!”
“Get Rope!” Another voice rang out, and another just shouted, “Use an Ax, send em to the Eye for Chum!” Cheers rose up at the suggestion, and soon this mob was going to get out of hand.
“Yeah! Give’m to the Eye!” More cheers. Who was this Eye... He needed to learn more.
He couldn’t leave the pair with the Zaunite mob, even if it was something they deserved after the horror they brought today. He had to admit he was tempted for half a second, but it was the wrong move. The question now would he get two people who could use magic all the way back to the Last Drop to do what? Vander puts them on trial? As far as he knew Zaun had one prison, the Dredge which was a forced mining labor facility and that sounded like it was already compromised. Zaunite law seemed to be handled by the people and tended to be brutal. Even if he left them, the two Mages had remarkable power and more people would be hurt before they were taken down, more than probably at least one of them would escape.
“Will you let them kill us, Stranger?” The man said, a smirk on his face. “Or do you prefer Nomad, or Bartender...”
Steve glanced around the crowd that was encroaching, and back at the two wizards. “No... I won't leave you to be slaughtered, but I won’t let you hurt them either.”
The Man laughed and regarded him with a wide grin... “Zora, I have what I need we can go.”
The girl looked at him, puzzled. “Tak?”
“I know his weakness…”
She jerked her hand over his, and glowed white as Steve fired into the place where they had been only a moment before, the bullet imbedding into the cobblestone. They had ported away, like the girl Zora had done last year after her brother was beaten. Tak… his name was Tak.
A woman stepped forward, shaking her head, and prodding the ground where they had been. The rest of the crowd set their weapons into more relaxed positions around them as more people came forward.
“Fucking wizards, eh?” She said, pulling a cigar and lighting it. “Gotta shoot em right away.” And giving him a light elbowing.
“You're not wrong.” Steve said, holstering the revolver. Every fight you learn something to help with the next one. He stepped out from the side of the building and moved through the crowd over towards the Shimmer’d creatures, the assembled crowd reaching out and touching him as he walked through. Some offered their thanks, food and shelter for the night and many whispered Janna’s Blessing. He was pretty sure they weren’t touching him and mentioning the Zaunite goddess. The graffiti of Vi and Powder came to mind.
No, they were touching the Shield...
The glow was gone from all three of them, their veins had all gone black, and their eyes were dead and lifeless. Purple foam leaked from their mouths, except for Vest who took the magic shot meant for Steve. Maybe he died before whatever the foam was could take him. There were a lot of reasons to foam at the mouth upon death. Chest wounds with lunch punctures, poisoning or seizures could cause it, but this was a lot of foam.
He kneeled down next to the Shimmer’d woman, who was still leaking foam from her mouth. He took his helmet off and clicked it onto his belt. There was something familiar about her, but the effects of the Shimmer left her face swollen and mutated. Still, she looked like...
“T’wernt you kill’t them.” a familiar voice came from behind him and glancing back he saw Tegan in his peripheral. “Shimmer got em, they’d be dead even if they’d planted you.” She shrugged. “Just so’s you know.” She was staring at the body in front of her with a mix of sadness. Steve could understand that.
“I appreciate it...” Steve said and turned to looked at the younger woman. “What are you doing here.”
“Came a looking after you, didn’t treat you proper at the squat for what you did for my kin.” She spoke. “Wanted to make it right.” Tegan pointed around. “This all done by Shimmer’d?”
Steve nodded,
“They b’come Monsters, sometimes they lose control when they overdose.” She said. “Just go murder.” She kneeled down by the dead woman. “I’ll get a cart, you go back to Entresol. I’ll take care of my kin...” as she pushed the Shimmer’d woman’s hair out of her face. It occurred to him. He’d only seen her the one time in the Last Drop, and he was good with faces and Tegan’s reaction to the woman confirmed it...
“Avaly?”
Tegan nodded...