"So you only came back because of this? For one lousy rock?" Jinx glanced at the Hextech gemstone still lying on the ground.
"I..." Vi found herself at a loss for words.
The minigun in Jinx's hands began to spin, the barrel stopping less than eight inches from Vi's face.
"That's not it. I came back for you." Vi pushed the barrel aside and looked at Jinx with complete seriousness. "You can be as angry as you want, but I'm not leaving you again."
Her words were absolute.
Vi reached out and touched Jinx's arm, but Jinx's head felt like it was splitting apart. She clutched her head and doubled over.
"Everyone shut up!" she screamed hysterically. "I need to think!"
The vast silence of the area was broken by the sound of engines.
Jinx reacted first, raising her minigun again.
"Did you hear that?"
The barrel spun faster, a precaution against overheating before she opened fire.
Several figures burst out from the pipes along the wall.
Their hoverboards trailed green fire beneath their feet, and every one of them wore a different mask.
The Firelights.
The same group that had attacked Silco's cargo ship not long ago.
Caleb's eyes widened slightly. If that was the case, then this was turning into a full-blown free-for-all.
The Firelights sliced through the silent night sky, and Jinx didn't hesitate for a second before pouring gunfire upward.
Silco's men rushed forward and formed a shield around Jinx.
The circling Firelights only had to swing hard once with the weapons in their hands to drop an opponent.
Before long, only Jinx and Vi were left on the platform.
Caitlyn wanted to line up a shot too, but the Firelights were moving too fast and too erratically.
Jinx swept the area with gunfire, nearly hitting Vi in the process.
Vi stared at the wild grin on her sister's face, disbelief filling her eyes.
But before she could think any further, one of the people she had dragged down locked her into a fight.
"At Vander's statue. Tomorrow!" Caleb only had time to throw out that one line before charging straight into the crossfire and rushing onto the platform.
"Wait!" Caitlyn hadn't even finished speaking before Caleb was already at the center of the platform.
Jinx looked at the newcomer and hesitated slightly.
Then, in the next instant, a Firelight fighter dropped from above and brought a blade down viciously at her.
Jinx didn't even look.
She just tilted her head a little and dodged the strike.
Then she whipped around with a roundhouse kick and smashed the attacker with the minigun in her hands.
After dealing with the enemy in front of her, Vi turned and saw that scene, her eyes full of shock.
"Powder," she called out instinctively.
Then an enemy who had slipped up behind her knocked her unconscious in a single blow.
Caleb bent down, picked up the Hextech gemstone from the ground, then accelerated, vaulted over the railing, and leaped straight into the darkness below.
"What?"
Caitlyn's mind was a mess. Vi had been knocked out, and Caleb had jumped off the platform.
No matter what, she had to save Vi first.
That was what she thought as she raised her rifle and prepared to pull the trigger—
But suddenly a mask filled her vision, and an iron fist clutching a stopwatch knocked her out cold.
The Firelight Jinx had taken down grabbed for his weapon again, only to be pinned by the hulking brute who had forced himself back up.
"Take them!" the leader holding the watch ordered, his voice carrying the harsh edge of mechanical distortion.
Vi and Caitlyn were slung over two shoulders, while the leader now held a smoke grenade in his hand.
"Give her back to me!" Jinx shouted as she charged at them when she saw Vi unconscious.
But all that met her was a curtain of black smoke.
And by the time the others gathered protectively around her, every Firelight except the one who had been pinned down earlier had already vanished without a trace.
"No!" she screamed at the empty space in front of her, utterly unwilling to accept it.
...
On the bridge between the two cities, Viktor sat behind a mechanical barricade, coughing nonstop in the murky air.
The Enforcers rushed forward to hold back the rioting Zaunites.
Viktor shook his head and tightened his grip on his cane.
"Thank you for the warning, Sheriff." Not far away, Jayce walked over.
"You're welcome, Councilor."
"Jayce, what are you doing?" Viktor asked, confused.
"Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is? I ordered the bridge sealed off, and my partner just went and crossed it anyway." Jayce sounded angry.
"That was your order? Why?"
"Because someone in the Undercity is dead set on killing us topsiders!" Jayce lowered his voice. "Where did you go?"
"I went to see a friend, to find out if he could help us."
"I told you I knew someone..." Viktor started, only for Jayce to cut him off.
"But you didn't tell me that person was from the Undercity."
"So what if he is?"
"So what? People from the Undercity are dangerous!"
"I... am from the Undercity." Viktor planted his cane down coldly. "You're right."
Jayce reached out, trying to help him, only to have his hand slapped away without mercy.
"I'm sorry. I've been so overwhelmed I lost my head," Jayce said apologetically before asking, "Can your friend help?"
"No. He said, 'Nature will resist this kind of artificial interference.'" Viktor didn't look back.
"All right. Then we'll think of something else." Jayce let out a disappointed sigh and hurried after his friend.
A bottle came flying in from the distance, shattered on the ground, and burst into roaring flames.
Jayce turned to look at the mob and frowned.
...
"I thought that fall killed you."
Silco smoked his cigar as he watched Caleb idly flicking a coin in front of him.
"Not that easy. I should thank you for the money. I used it to buy myself something that kept me alive."
Caleb put the coin away, then tossed the grappling gun he had bought a few days earlier onto the table.
"One Hextech gemstone definitely isn't enough. If I remember right, Jinx should still have the Hexcore."
"I can turn those into gemstones and change them from unstable explosives into a stable energy source."
"I'll take you there." Silco rose to his feet. "And while we're at it, I'll check on Jinx."
"There are conditions." Caleb remained seated, unmoving.
"I want the Firelight prisoner handed over to me." Caleb picked the grappling gun back up from the table. "And Sevika is about to come see you, so I can go alone."
Right on cue, Sevika pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Boss..." Her eyes lifted, landed on Caleb, and she froze for a moment.
"I agree to both." Silco nodded and wrote down the address where Jinx was staying for Caleb.
"But..." His voice turned icy with killing intent. "If you dare do anything to Jinx, I'll show you what a fate worse than death really feels like."
"Relax."
Caleb left the office without even turning around, and even took the time to close the door behind him.
"Sit."
Silco lowered himself back into his chair, and Sevika obediently sat on the sofa nearby, pouring herself a drink.
"All our business has stopped. Anyone crossing the bridge gets searched by the Enforcers."
"Marcus is carrying out my orders." Silco leaned back and relit the cigar he had just stubbed out.
"Or maybe he's finally turned on you." Sevika drained the liquor in her glass in one swallow. Her chemtech arm still hadn't been repaired.
"The Chem-Barons set up a meeting," she continued. "And they look pretty aggressive about it."
"Keep an eye on Jinx. Don't let Caleb do anything reckless." Silco stood and walked toward the door. "Let's get ready and see what they want from this meeting."