"How many?" My voice is different, almost as if I had aged 4 years. My office is being bombarded with letters ranging from sincere apologies, condemnation, requests, assurance that business will flow smoothly despite the bloodshed, and my personal favorite, the unmarked letters explaining in great detail how my family and I are going to suffer a slow and miserable death. Threats against me are flattering, but threats against my family are intolerable.
One of my many squad captains, Lenard, looks down at his clipboard. His face tells me all that I need to know. Whatever is on that paper, he doesn't know how to explain it. Singed has taken up temporary residence in the public hospital. He has behaved himself, managing to refrain from divulging his insane experiments. At least, I think I'm reading that right. I reach my hand out. "Just hand me the clipboard."
Lenard jumped a little and handed me the clipboard. As I looked over the numbers, my heart sank. Ideally, I don't want anyone to die anymore. We have enough brilliant minds to bridge the gap between Zaun and Piltover. However, we are living in reality, and reality is harsh, sometimes too harsh. My eyes scan over familiar names with familiar faces. People that I've only spoken to on occasions, but it doesn't make the loss hurt any less. If anything, all it tells me is how much of a failure I am. These people will never see Zaun grow to be a great nation. All of my ideas are worth nothing if my Zaunites are being slaughtered by the incompetent. I look up to see Caitlyn, who might have just arrived. Her once excited expression melts into one of sorrowful sympathy. Wasting no time, she marches over to me and pulls the clipboard from my hand and tosses it aside.
"Leave us and close the door, now," she commands with a voice that's a pitch lower, authoritative, and blunt. Lenard seemed surprised at that direct command and walked backwards, looking at me. I give him an approving nod, he finally turned around in time to catch the knob and leaves the room, closing the door shut. As soon as we heard the click, Caitlyn turned my chair and leaned over.
"I'm sorry." She empathizes with eyes glistening with tears. Not knowing what came over me, my legs made me stand, and she embraced me. "I'm so sorry."
The weight of Zaun's prosperity is crushing me. Causing a three-day civil war, nearly dying from falling from a two-story building, taking over the factory, being killed by my own plan, raising an army, and being exposed in that letter brought my Zaunites too much pain. And now, with the recent assault...I'm a monster.
Caitlyn rubs the back of my head as I stand limp against her chest. "It's okay," she smoothly whispers. "We'll work this out together."
No tears, my chest is filled with near unbearable sorrow for what I've done, and yet, I can't shed a single tear. "What do you mean? How?"
I can feel her huff, maybe in amusement? "Everyone on the council knows what has happened." Caitlyn explains. "Marcus was behind the attack against Powder."
That made me lift my head from her chest. "What?"
Caitlyn nods as she caresses my cheek. "He placed the blame on Grayson, which honorably discharged her from the Enforcers. From there, he began pressuring the Enforcers to follow his commands, his code."
I began putting the pieces together. "He forged the arrest warrant."
She nods. "He has only rumors and speculation, no solid leads on anything you've done. You can mostly thank your Zaunites for not...'ratting' you out."
I can't believe it. "But...I got into a fight in Piltover..."
Caitlyn chuckled, revealing her sparkling white teeth. "That was self-defense, the adults there saw it." She checks my face for tears.
I shake my head. "All those people...lost."
Caitlyn wrinkles her chin, giving me a sign that she's trying to think up a way to counter my guilt. She holds my chin up with her hand. "They believe in you. You have given everything for Zaun, while the council has given nothing but waste and cruelty."
My fingers curl around Caitlyn's wrist. "But...so many are dead..."
She peers into my eyes with gentleness that melts me from within. "They gave their lives for you and only you. If not for you, the Enforcers would have stormed Zaun as they always have." She runs her hand over my hair. "And the Zaunites would have let them run right over them without a challenge."
Lowering my gaze, I grabbed her hands. "6 Zaunites and 11 Piltovians..."
Caitlyn shook her head. "They aren't confirmed casualties, just in critical condition."
I pat her hand. "Thank you for cheering me up, but I need to see to them, I am their leader."
Caitlyn follows me out, judging whether or not to add to her encouragement. On my way out of the factory, I'm greeted by my workers and soldiers. They didn't seem as mournful as I am. Rather, they're energized.
Caitlyn tapped my shoulder as we walked down the steps. "This was their first victory against the Enforcers. Do you have any idea what that means?"
I didn't answer. As we reached the 1st floor, I was relieved to see that Rush survived. He's putting in extra effort today. A few of the kids aren't here. They must be at home mourning. I'll have to remember to somehow compensate them. Rush sees me in the corner of his eye. I'm thankful that he could read my posture and only settled for a curt nod. We continued walking, there are people that I need to check up on. Their fates decide my decision today.
"They'll become too prideful and bring all of Zaun down to the foundation." I finally replied as I tried to keep my back straight, as I'm aware of how strong I need to seem to my people. My goal is to visit the hospital. Lis weighs heavy on my heart. I can't fail another one, I just can't.
"That's why you need to remain their leader." We reached the hospital, and Caitlyn placed her hand on my shoulder, stopping us. "And perhaps...their Commander," she said it with the gentleness that lacks sincerity. There's something else behind those words. She knows of fate's plan, the future that's awaiting us. Has she given up trying to avoid that future? Regardless of her intentions, it won't make a difference, I'll make sure of that.
We entered the hospital to see the interior completely rearranged. It almost looks...Piltovian-influenced. Everything is cleaned. The doors are made of metal that slides from side to side. It's organized, with some of my soldiers stationed as security guards. Zaunites and some Piltovians fill the lobby area. Doctors took them behind the doors when their names were called. When they emerged from one of the rooms, they looked...changed. Their eyes are different, and their limbs are a bit more solid and longer. They walked differently, as if something within them had been replaced. One of the doctors spots me and waves me forward as they mutter to another doctor. That one disappeared in the back room.
We leaned against the wall, away from everyone else. "Caitlyn, if I'm Commander, that will seal my fate of being..." I can't think of anything that I haven't called myself.
Caitlyn pulls a strand of hair from her face. "The only person worthy of leading Zaun into prosperity?"
Upon looking around, I see broken and scared people filled with hope. They're aware of the losses and the devastation, but something different has awakened in them. That hope outweighs their fear of the future. They don't know what's coming next. They have no idea of the horrors that await us all. But they will fight, broken, trembling, and full of worry, but they will fight.
"There is nothing they wouldn't do for you, Owen." Caitlyn whispers in her sweet voice that's laced with alluring venom. "Wherever you go, they will follow you. No one else has that loyalty, not even Grayson."
It's difficult to combat that fact. No sensible person would allow a child to boss them around. But I have to acknowledge my advantages. I am more gifted than I can admit, and it's because of that that Fate decides to make my life hell. Wait a minute, is it Fate's plan to destroy me? Maybe that's why the whole world was at war in my dream,I refused to die. In the sea of eternity, the other worlds revealed themselves to me. No other world tolerated my existence. Birth complications destroyed me. For whatever reason, I was always stillborn. Everyone else thrived in their own way. So many versions of Vander, a wolfman of pure bloodlust. Vi, an Enforcer, along with Caitlyn? Ekko, a true leader of the Firelights, and then there's Powder...Jinx. A being destroyed by grief and denial, completely consumed by scorn. Mylo and Claggor:Powder accidentally killed them in all other realities but one.
A doctor walks up to me, waking me from my thoughts. "Come with me," he said in a distorted voice, thanks to that ventilation suit. We followed him and his assistant beyond the metal wall, down some clean halls, and into a cold room. There is a bed, with a body covered in a white sheet. My eyes widen as I judge the size of the body, appearing to be of a similar size to Lis. I look at the doctor, who unsealed his suit, and indeed, it is singed. "To my great frustration, your Lis has died."
He watches as I approach the table with detached clinical curiosity. I pulled the white sheet down to see the upper half of her body. Lis's face isn't as pale as I expect her to be. There is a mechanism on her bullet wound. "Died. Past tense. This contraption is the only thing keeping her heart alive and her blood circulating. The temperature is at the level that I need to keep her stable," he reports with his wizened voice.
I turn to him, trying to keep my emotions under control. "Wake her up, bring her back, Singed." Caitlyn reached her hand out but decided against touching me.
Singed face remains unchanged. "Whatever you've done to her has awakened something profound within her blood." He moves towards a freezer drawer and pulls out a layer of limbs. He waves me over, and I follow. "These are the result of her DNA. Her acid binds with the acids in Shimmer to bridge new tissue." He closes one drawer and opens another. "These tissue samples,what do you see?" He looks at me.
These things look like shiny specks of scrap. But upon closer inspection, the slabs of scrap look to have fluids pulsing through them. "Singed...that's metal...but it's breathing?"
He smirks, the only smile I've seen him express. "Yes, an advancement of my success within the Gulp. Orianna has benefited greatly from it."
His assistant unsealed her hood to reveal her face. "It's thanks to you that I'm here, thank you." Her face has traces of metal, but otherwise, she looks completely human.
"How long are you going to keep Lis like this?" I ask both of them.
He seals the drawers. "She needs a new heart. The construction of a new heart is...expensive...and painful." He pulls a letter out of his pocket and hands it to me. "I'm confident you can continue providing me materials for research and...to serve Zaun." He could care less about Zaun and couldn't hide it, but at least he tried.
I nod. "Yeah," and pocket the shopping list. "You'll have all you need." With that, I walked out. Singed isn't the type of person who cares for the civil courtesy of goodbyes.
The streets of Zaun greet us with cleaner air and clear skies. "That was Singed?" Caitlyn's face twists into a warning scowl. "He is a dangerous man, Owen."
I raised a brow. "It's Zaun, we're all dangerous."
We entered the Last Drop to see a mostly full house. It's lively, with people happily playing pool, drinking, eating, and still celebrating the victory. Vander is up to his neck in fulfilling orders, even with Gert flying across the floor like a dancer. Sliding into the booth, I finally have a comfortable spot to think.
"To state the obvious." Caitlyn continued. "Do you think it is wise to allow him this much...power in Zaun?"
I turn my attention to her. "How is Grayson?"
Caitlyn's growing scowl softens at the mention of her friendly rival. "She recovered in our hospital. The bullets didn't penetrate her armor, but her legs...she's going to have trouble walking for a while."
I let out a breath. "At least she's alive, I owe her one, big time. She covered my guards and me from the Enforcers' bullets."
Gert came by and laid tall glasses of juice for us. "For our leader and his friend." She winked at me and disappeared behind patrons. "
Caitlyn shook her head and took a sip. "You owe her more than a big-time favor. There's going to be a new sheriff. And I have no idea who they'll choose.
The prospect of an unknown sheriff could complicate things. Just as I was about to dig for more information, Summer approached me. "We need to talk," she demands with a heaving chest, trembling with worry. "Alone."
Caitlyn shifts her eyes between Summer and me. I nod across the room, and Caitlyn gets the message. She got up with her drink without another word and walked to sit at the bar. Summer filled the space next to me. "Lis...how is she?"
I reach out to lay a hand against hers. "She's hanging in there. Singed is taking care of her."
Summer searched my face for any signs of deception. "So she'll make it?" she asks with desperate hope behind her voice.
I gave her a reassuring smile. "I made sure to insist that he'll do everything he can to get her up and running."
She didn't react for a moment, still searching for any signs of deceit. Her bloodshot eyes weigh heavy on my heart. Eventually, she relaxed and pulled me into a hug. "Thank you, Owen. I...don't think I could have gone on without being with you two."
My hand rubs her back. The bumps along her back,is that her spine? "Let's get something to eat." I raised my hand to get either Gert's or Vander's attention, but Summer lowered my arm.
"You've given enough, Owen, let me give you something in return." She gave a quick smile and pushed out of the booth. "I'll find you again." and she left, regardless of my protests.
Everyone remembered their manners and pretended they didn't hear anything. I know better, but I'm grateful anyways. They trained their senses to keep aware of their surroundings. If I wanted, I could task anyone to keep a profile on her and track her every movement. But...no...I won't spy on her. The last thing I want is to push her over the edge. Sipping my drink, I think about my next step. With Zaun celebrating their victory over the Enforcers, the citizens of Piltover won't see that as appropriate. As much as I used to not give two solid shits about them as a whole, it's not about me anymore. The well-being of Zaun needs to make peace with Piltover. There can be no true lasting prosperity with a potential enemy so close to our borders. I need to know what they're thinking and if a peace offer needs to be made. Hopefully, peace is an option, otherwise, the future is all but guaranteed.
Finishing my drink, I tipped Gert and stood. I take a look at Vander, him being lost bartending. It looks like he truly enjoys this. Such a mundane job, yet he looks fulfilled. I tore myself away, I would have stayed there forever if it were possible. As I bravely walked towards the bridge, I wondered, will Zaunites be accepted within Piltover? No doubt, if we had lost this exchange, I would stop at nothing to have convenient accidents happen to all Pilties within Zaun. My soldiers are holding the line on our side of the bridge. They screened all Piltovians who entered Zaun. Traffic is slowed for a more orderly inspection.
A familiar skinny guy with spikes on the side of his head approaches me. He salutes me with reinvigorated energy. "Owen, Captain Sonikk, holding down the fort. We found a few weapons on a couple of people, they've been taken care of."
I salute in return. It would be a good idea to remember the people who stood by me all this time. "This was your idea?" I point at the inspection line.
Sonikk shrugs. "Half my idea and half Grayson's."
I crossed my arms. "Is that right?"
He shifts his rifle to a more comfortable position, letting the strap hang on his neck as he alternates hands. "We agreed that everyone needs to be looked over before crossing. Soooo..." He begins to shift his weight from side to side while looking anywhere else but at me.
I just stood there, wondering if he's going to follow through on his agreement with an Enforcer.
He finally made his decision. "You got us this far, boss." He steps aside.
I nod, affirming his loyal decision. As I passed, I made a mental note to keep him in mind for advancement. I also need to structure rankings for advancement. The Piltover public seems to have a mixed reaction upon my arrival. A mixed reaction of understanding, sympathy, repulsion, and fury. Regardless of the sentiment, they all gave a wide berth for me to pass. Children were snatched out of my path, they skittered across the once crowded spots of celebration. The elderly found their youth again when it came time to avoid me.
"I can't believe you left me behind!" A scary and angry Caitlyn linked her arm around mine. "Where do you think you're going?"
Seeing her once calm face scrunched in irritation is a piece of work that I have been egging on all this time, and it finally paid off. It's not quite under the circumstances that I envisioned, but I'll take it all the same. "You're getting redder than Marcus last night at the bridge."
Caitlyn's wrathful visage slowly melts away as a familiar voice echoes through the air. Sounds like it's coming from an audio projector. We followed it towards its source to end up at a gathering. Deciding to stay at a distance was the best decision. All of the councilors are there, including decorated Enforcers. They appear to be seasoned officers, five of them in total. I'm guessing they are the replacement. A reorganized police force could make things more interesting for me. Looks like we managed to catch the end of their ceremony. At the podium, Hoskel was finishing a speech.
"...encourage trust between our cities. Furthermore, there is the trust within our own brave officers. We must be able to absolutely trust our officers to do the right thing."
I was about to call out their hypocrisy, but Caitlyn brushed her elbow in my ribs. She took my left side, but thankfully, my left side didn't ignite in creeping agony. The woman with the gold jewelry in her hair... I swear she was looking at me...but I'm not sure.
"I implore you." Hoskel continues. "Continue to support Zaun in their difficult times, as their trust in us is important for the betterment of progress,"
I turn away from the circus. "Aaaannnd I'm out of here." My feet carried me away, despite Caitlyn's best efforts, in public at least, to hold me in place. She's going to get the idea that she can't push me around as much as she thinks. I can tolerate many things, pontification isn't one of them. Just as I thought I was free from Piltie torture, another familiar voice calls my attention.
"Oh, there you are!" Along with his fast-moving feet, Heimerdinger greets me with perfect posture and a stretched hand. When I reached down to shake his hand, I couldn't help but remember Hal. "We were just considering sending you a letter to formally summon you."
I raised a brow and looked at Caitlyn, she tried to raise her brow but looked like she was having a medical crisis. "Not going to get yelled at?"
He smirked through his furry face. "No one will yell at you, son, we worry for you." He looks genuine in his admission.
It's strange, but when I look into his eyes, I can see the similar sea of eternity in him, unlike Hal. His words are true, I believe he believes what he's saying. "And you want me to walk..." I point at the tall Council tower. "...all the way up there?"
Heimerdinger turns to look at the tower and laughs. "Come now, a child like you should be full of energy," he claims as he turns his head back to me.
And full of energy I was, as when we finally reached the top, I was reminded of how badly this place needs to be torn down. "Ever thought...." I took a deep breath. "...keeping the council...room on the first...floor?"
Heimerdinger took a few extra steps ahead of us as if he'd just finished drinking a cup of coffee. "Huh..." he turns to us. "...I've never considered that." He shrugged the logical thought away and proceeded within the council room.
I wiped my forehead of sweat. "Unbelievable."
Caitlyn walks ahead of me. "You're unbelievable." She turned to me. "You got beat by a girl and a senior citizen." and walks inside.
"Sly...cruel...little..." I grumbled as I walked inside.
My mood cooled down once I stood in the center of the council people. Somehow, and my only explanation is magic, they are all here, including Silco. They must have some sort of space-bending technology to have appeared here before us.
Councilwoman Mel put on her best sympathetic face, which was a pretty convincing one. "Owen, we've read the reports, seen the devastation, and spoken to the families, we are deeply remorseful over the Enforcer incident. You have our deepest and most sincere apologies for our misguided judgement of selecting Marcus as Sheriff. "He has disgraced us all," she began. The other members nod approvingly. "We have already taken the initiative to pay for the damages for this outrage."
"What happened to Marcus and Greyson?" I asked."
The metal man Bolbok spoke up. "Marcus has been sentenced to life within Stillwater. As for Grayson, she is being tended to with care." He laced his fingers. "You owe her much for your survival, I hear."
I waved my hand. "I'll send her flowers. But really, I want to talk about the safety of the citizens."
Silco leaned forward slightly, taking a keen interest in my next words. "I need to guarantee their safety in both cities. I'm afraid that vengeance attempts between the cities."
Mel placed her forearms on the table. "You have our word, we made it quite clear that vengeance will be judged harshly with sound punishment. Justice has been served, it is time for us to heal from this."
This is the moment, the reason why I bothered to step foot within Piltover. "At the bridge...I..." The council members all visibly attune their posture to pay closer attention. "...I provoked Marcus into attacking."
There was a long silence after that admission. Then Salo, raising chuckles escapes his throat, dominated the silence. "Oh child," he held his chest. "One doesn't assemble an army, strategically station them, and fall for the taunts from a child. He was going to attack regardless." His words sank in as a backhanded compliment. "You may leave now, you have played your virtuous leader role quite well."
Cassandrea cleared her throat. "In a more appropriate manner of speaking...Owen, the incident did nothing but strengthen our resolve to support Zaun. Our alliance is the key to progress."
I didn't want this. I didn't want any of this. Whether Marcus fabricated some details of that letter he forged, it has its intended effect, I feel immensely guilty. A stern look from Silco is all I need to see. He's peering through me like a focused laser. I want to be punished for the destruction I caused. There was something I could have done. I could have made a deal. I could have taken it seriously for a change and given myself up. There were options, and I chose to be a child and laugh in his face, I chose to be a child. No more. Right now, I'm too emotional and too filled with guilt to function.
"I'll keep the peace within Zaun, the commerce will remain undisturbed. As for the checkpoint, it's just for our peace of mind." I informed them while trying to give all of them equal attention. "If there's anything else, I must be going."
Mel smiled, with pride on her face. That's strange. "Of course, I've seen that you've been quite busy lately. Please, continue on to bring glory to Zaun."
I nod and waved at them all before turning to walk out. Caitlyn was patiently waiting against the wall. Cassandrea called for her, but by that point I was already descending down the spiraling staircase. Sometime along the way, Caitlyn's long legs caught up with me. Whatever she has to say about beating me again, I didn't have the patience to tolerate her bolstering. For some reason, she felt obligated to loop her arm around mine. Too tired to complain at this point. Whatever keeps me going, getting away from here is my only goal for now. Finally, we emerged from the tower, on solid ground again.
"I hate...." I huffed as we walked through the crowd towards the bridge. "...that tower..."
Caitlyn is having the time of her life watching me break from exhaustion. "Because of the council? Or the staircase?"
We finally reached the bridge. Just as we were about to begin the journey across it. I heard my name spoken in a pained voice from a person I never want to hear that from. "Owen?"
A new energy fills me, one that's as old as time: fear. Powder stands behind us, seeing Caitlyn's arm wrapped around mine. I turn around, with not only exhaustion weighing me down, but now shame and regret fill my blood as well. The blood runs cold as Powder's face slowly reveals her processing the implications.
Caitlyn turns and softly smiles. "Just who I was looking for."
Powder's trembling face fights to remain stoic but is failing miserably. Her tear-brimming eyes shift between us, probably deciding the worth of striking us down. "You weren't looking for me," she flatly dismissed.
Caitlyn didn't take offense to it at all. "You or the others. Owen had a long and exhaustive day." She scratched the top of my head, without going into details. "I'll leave you with him." She released my arm. "Oh and, do be careful, he's worn out." With that, she steps away, keeping eye contact with Powder until she passes her.
Powder, however, kept her eyes on Caitlyn's back until I spoke up. "Powder..."
Her head snapped to me, and in a fluid motion, she slipped her arms under mine and into a hug. "What happened to you? What did she do to you?"
This hug isn't a normal hug you give to a friend, it's a body lock. "She's been...manipulating me...I think."
Powder hesitated in her reaction. Just by that sudden hesitation, I could tell she was ready to toss me. In my current state, I don't think I could have stopped her. She pulled back slightly to look me in the eyes. "You think? You need to be sure," she demands as she lowers her hands to grab mine. "Because I don't want to believe what's in my head right now."
I nod in understanding. "I'll tell you all about my day so far," points behind me. "At our usual spot?"
She let out a huff. The welcomed thought of any other alternative, other than what she has come to believe in her head, brought a struggling smile to her face. "Yeah, okay, mister, explain on the way."
So I began with the report of the casualties from the night before. About how guilty I felt about the whole thing. The fact that I might have killed one of my guards and that I might have lied to my other guard as well about her condition. By the time I told Powder about trusting Lis with Singed, I had already laid my head across her lap. She scratched my chest lightly as I continued. Next, I discuss how the checkpoint might have to last for a year, until we can trust Piltover citizens again. Next, the council meeting and how frustrating it was to walk up and down those stairs. Powder listened intently all that time. Not a single word escaped her mouth. When I checked to see if she was listening to me, she flicked my bottom lip to continue. Eventually, I ended at the point where I was too exhausted to think about Caitlyn holding me up.
Powder suddenly patted my chest rather hard. "You're getting soft, Owen. When was the last time you worked out?" She looks down at me with a smirk on her face.
My hands flew to hers, as I don't want to get surprised anymore today. "Sorry, too busy securing our lovely city."
She giggles like a baby. "That's what sucks about you leading Zaun, we don't get enough alone time," she points out as she moves her hand to run her finger over my jaw.
I sighed in an exaggerated fashion. "If only adults would kiss and make up, like we do."
Powder grew quiet and just looked at me for a while. The silence she's using makes me almost second-guess myself...almost. Tilting her head, she gives the impression that she's thinking of something important. "Hmmm...you think we made up?"
I smiled, catching onto her game. "Oh, I know we did."
Powder slowly leans forward, bringing her sweet face closer to mine, but pausing to dangle a fat blue braid over my nose. "Oh, really?"
Playing along, I bat the braid from side to side with my nose. "We forgot the kiss part, the most important part."
She began leaning back, taking the braid away from my nose. "I don't think it's that important." She nonchalantly decides as she looks off to the side.
My gut sank, but I still played along. "Nooooo!" At least, I hope Powder is still playing.
And to my relief, she snickers and cups my head. "Okay, you big baby." She returns her face to hover over mine. Our eyes met before our lips met a healthy layer of her hair. That sent us into a laughing fit. Powder pulled her hair from her face and pushed her warm lips against mine. Eventually, her lips turned from warm to hot as we took our time enjoying the emotion behind the kiss. It felt long-awaited and genuine. She parted her mouth wider, and I managed to kiss her teeth before opening my eyes again. A smile formed on her face. "Always want to lead, don't you?"
"As..." the wind began to blow at a constant gentle pace, hardly recognizable without Powder's hair gliding gently on the currents. "...as long as my family is there with me, I'll lead the city through anything."
Powder huffed, as if she finally had nothing to say.
I maintained contact with her eyes. "I'll step down right now. Vander can take my place. Gert can bartend, and then we can have our freedom."
Powder's hand caresses the back of my head. "You can't do that... Zaun needs you."
I run my fingers down her triceps. "Just say it and I'll do it, but I'll always make time for you."
Powder pulled another stubborn braid out of our way, and she landed a loud smack upon separation. "Lead us, Owen. Then we can grow old and cranky together."
That's it then, that's the future I want, and I'll make that future by any means necessary.