Smeech's Factory
Jinx continued to fix her hair. What kind of person really went through the trouble of undoing her braids? It was much faster putting them in, then taking them out. That was just misery.
She was almost done, and she was trying to ignore the absolute fact that her new boss was her childhood friend. Who flipped! He really flipped. It was weird the way he kept watching her braid her hair. He was probably thinking about what to do.
He still seemed edgy too, like she was just going to attack him out of nowhere. It's one of the reasons she started to work on her braids. That and, her hair needed some level of control in her fighting.
Maybe he was new to being a bad guy? That would explain how he didn't know what to do. No wonder Silco commanded her and Sevika to help the Firelights establish themselves. Ekko had always been a 'good boy hero', trying to stop the shimmer. How he got into it himself, she had no clue. But?
It was super exciting! She had no clue what happened with Vi and that enforcer, she'd look into it later, but holy shit! Ekko. Ekko was less than a few feet away and they didn't have to fight each other anymore. He wasn't interrupting the shimmer deliveries or the factories anymore. Because.
He was on her side.
Time changed things. That was what happened with time. One day someone was small and talking about rabbit dolls with their sister, and a few weeks later, they are learning the best ways to make real weapons go off.
Change was fast, and it could happen at any moment. She didn't need an explanation how her Firelight enemies just became her allies. Not only that, it was two years later. Whatever Silco brought down on her to survive that blast, it was intense. The fact she even survived was a miracle.
However.
This was also ridiculous. She'd had standoffs like this before. It wasn't always 'bang bang'. Considering how careful everyone was moving about this, it was clear no one there was ready for an actual battle.
All she had was her backup gun, she couldn't take on Smeech with it. She didn't even see a single bomb in the Last Drop, and she didn't have time to head for her lair, she just knew she had to hurry up and find him.
Sevika didn't have a weapon or she would have done something by now.
She had no idea about the fancy looking furry guy, but he didn't look like a fighter either.
However, Smeech's crew weren't moving around that much either. He talked a big game with numbers, but there was a good chance his entire actual allies might be everyone in that room right now. Otherwise, he'd be using each and every one to help him find them. He was the one that thought it was all boss to eat in the same place he took care of his victims. There were lines of tables to hide under. If he didn't mind some popping off, he would have them all check at the same time.
He was too methodical. He had a lot to lose too.
This was just supposed to be a quick shakedown, with Smeech's usual axe. Ekko mentioned Firelights being in that mix too, he could have even more just so it looked like there was more on his side there for him. Hmmm . . . got it. "Who can I kill?" she whispered, starting a whispering conversation back and forth with him.
She watched Ekko's body language. He really didn't want her to take anyone out? She had to do something, she was the only thing with a weapon. "Okay, then we need to sneak out."
"Then my village." He didn't even make a comprehensible sentence.
Ugh. "This isn't a hard word problem, what do you want to do? Tell me, and then I tell you whether it's even possible."
"I don't want you to kill anyone."
"You want your village safe."
"Yes."
"And people of Zaun want fresh air." Maybe she should let him know his options? No, better not. It might be overstepping on Silco. Besides, Ekko had brains, he'd figure it out. She was the weapon, and Sevika was the braun.
"What do you think we should do?"
Uh? Ekko wanted her opinion? "Well? I can't kill Smeech with this gun, he's a shredder."
"I want to get out of here with you, Sevika and Heimerdinger safely without jeopardizing the Firelight base. I also? I don't want you to kill anyone."
She bit her lip. Geez, Ekko, ask for a miracle why don't you? Hmmmm. If even one of them made it out, his village could be toast. "There's a chance someone who isn't even here could know. It's slight, but possible. So the only way to really proof that is to scare them."
"Scare them?" He was confused.
"Scare them to leave them alone. That's how Silco controlled people."
"How do I do that?"
"Give me permission to take the floor, I'll have Smeech begging to shake your hand in less than ten minutes."
"I . . . wanted to keep this side-changing secret still," he said.
Oh, great. She had nothing else.
"I'm working on a new shimmer formula, and it's not ready. But?" He looked like he was considering it. "Firelights flipped. I don't know how far the information's gone. I have to try something. Okay, fine. Do whatever it takes."
She lifted the cover and fled to one of the dark wall areas. Love to know how I have some fancy Piltie looking ripped up dress beneath a hoodie too. That'd be interesting.
She climbed into a corner. She was a long-distance fighter, and Smeech was short distance. As long as she kept her distance, she had the upper hand.
She saw Ekko shove his head out of the covers too. Idiot, you' re the boss. He shouldn't be doing that. It was her and Sevika who should be putting their necks out for everything.
Eh. Okay, better make this good. Gonna go there, and then there, and then there . . .
What was she doing? I forgot just how much of a monkey you are, but damn, that's high. Ekko watched her move higher and higher. Be careful. What are you doing? She was going up real high. Was she going to the ceiling?
"I think I might hear some chirping over there."
Damn. Ekko immediately went back under when he heard Smeech's voice. He hated how much he did not want to be found by him. If it wasn't for Jinx, he wouldn't have his whole left arm. Fuck that guy!
"Listen up, Smeech! Literally!"
Jinx's voice.
"I'd really think about rescinding all the threats against the Firelights, they aren't just innocent bugs to smash this time. They are protected by Silko himself!"
"Silko is dead!"
"Sure, as dead as I am. He's been lying low, building power again, waiting for the moment to strike. You remember his true goals? He is getting closer to striking!"
"Silco's really alive?"
Ekko heard Smeech starting to fall for it.
"Duh. Why else would Sevika and I be protecting the leader of the Firelights? Silko's got plans for them. As far as you are concerned? Ekko is running Silco's circus now. So? You touch the Firelights property, it's like touching Silko. Ekko even owns the Last Drop, where you guys always talked business, how much clearer can it be made to you?"
"Awwww, fuck!" Yeah, Smeech wasn't excited. "So what are the Firelights, stand ins?"
"Silco's arriving soon so get your shit together! Cut the deals and quit the squeals. Spread the word, and bow down to your new boss. Ekko!"
Bow down? Ekko watched as the table cover was lifted up. By Sevika. He didn't have a choice. He came out from beneath the table and saw Smeech. People were gathered around, but no one was making to attack anyone.
Then Sevika pushed him toward the table, giving him the hit. Stand on the table, fine.
Smeech's eyes went from loving to kill it's prey to absolutely serious, and even frightened.
Sevika got on the table too and stayed at Ekko's side, and he felt someone land on his other side. Jinx. Jinx came down and landed by his other side. They both held a posture. Sevika was leaning toward his right side, crossing her arm and biomechanical arm and Jinx was leaning toward his left, also crossing her arm. They both had threatening dirty looks on their faces. The ones he used to see all the time.
The weapon and the braun of Silco. To make sure nobody bothered his village? Scare them. Ekko could tell what he had to do. He cocked his head up more, making a real serious face. Most of the time, that's the choice of face he showed to anyone on the shimmer side, so it wasn't hard.
Smeech took the contract he just made Ekko sign, grabbed a match and lit it on fire. He just chuckled nervously. "Whoah, hey, I was just kidding! I didn't know things. I never messed around on Silco before, and I wouldn't mess around now."
"Of course you didn't, who could figure out shit when the strong arms of Silco are right here in front of the new leader," Sevika called him out. "Repulsive."
"Look, look!" He held his biomechanical hands out. "Really, I'm not going to mess around with Silco. I had no idea the death was a con. I should have known I guess. I'll spread the word too, that Silco's coming back." He laughed. "Yes. Yes. Oh ho ho! Those Topsiders are in for a real treat when he gets back!"
"For now, this guy is Ekko." Sevika patted his shoulders. "You fuck with him? You fuck with Silco. Remember that."
"Right. I didn't know," Smeech insisted. "I wasn't thinking." He stuck out his hand upward to the table to shake Ekko's. Just like Jinx said would happen.
"You were ready to cut off my fucking arm, there's no way I'm shaking your hand!" Ekko yelled at him as he slapped his hand away.
"Shit!" Smeech went on his knees. "Seriously, I didn't know! You've gotta give me another chance! My crew will get the word out about the new boss in town. Ekko will be echoing far and wide as the new leader of shimmer by tomorrow. I'll have all the chem-barons meeting back at the Last Drop by tomorrow night!"
That was not what he wanted! He didn't want anyone threatening his tree or the Last Drop, but gaw damn! Jinx took that info and made it real to everyone!
"It'd be a good idea to forgive the funny looking rat," Sevika said toward him. "As the word spreads, you can spread your new shimmer formula to the other factories, post-haste."
Oh. She's right! They would be able to get it out soooo much faster if he had everyone working under him. If all of the factories, including the hidden factories, were all spreading it. Once he figured out the right proportions to make with Jinx. "Yeah. The new formula."
Jinx leaned toward Smeech. "That's why Silco picked him. Brand new formula unlocked."
"Shimmer's been improved?" Smeech just stared at him. "Oh shit, I can't believe it, how could it be more improved? I thought we hit our limits with perfecting it?"
"Science," Ekko said. "It never stops."
"Oh. Right, that makes sense. You're a brainy type. You were hanging out with Heimerdinger of all people," Smeech said nonchalantly.
"Yes, he is brainy and I never!" Heimerdinger said from behind the table.
"Yeah, you never alright," Smeech said to him. "Can't we all just call this a big misunderstanding? And, uh? So how great is this new formula you got brewing?"
"Really good," Ekko answered. "I'm still working on it, but it's getting closer. How soon could we cover this all over Piltover and Zaun?"
"Damn, you want both side chunks? That must be some recipe you've got brewing with Silco. Well, it shouldn't take long to reach the regular customers. Probably weeks. Then you got the ones that can only afford every once in awhile."
"I want to get everyone. I want the old junkie's too that can barely stand," Ekko stand. "Everyone should be talking about the new formula. I want it out, free, for every hand that's ever wanted to try it before we jack that price straight up."
"Damn, that's pretty cruel!" He just laughed. "Yeah, that is something you got alright. It could replace everyone's shimmer in months probably. Once enough customers accept the change."
That was brilliant except for one thing. The vaccine knocked out the effect of shimmer. It only took one buy, for people to reject it. "Yeah. When it's ready, I'll move it out, but I'm still improving on the formula." I have to make the vaccination slow down. Maybe a certain amount mixed with real shimmer. I don't know. He had to get time with Jinx in a lab.
But how was he going to get a lab? Hell, this whole thing was already putting the Last Drop in danger now. All of the chem-barons would be going there on and off to see him. This is great, and this is bad. He could get everyone vaccinated even faster than Piltover holding Jinx hostage, but he was losing his safety spot.
The village was probably known now, if his own Firelights ratted it out. Even if he did use Jinx like a weapon and off everyone. He had to protect it somehow.
"Well then, let me offer you a ride back to Last Drop? Oh, your place is still gassed," Smeech realized. "Hey, why don't I drop you off at a decent inn then? That gas will be cleared out in the morning. My treat completely."
"My place isn't too far from here," Sevika said to Ekko. "I have a car."
Really? A car would get them moving, he had no hoverboard there. "Thanks."
Ekko walked out, noticing both Jinx and Sevika were staying at his sides, and others were parting out of the way like royalty was walking through. Everyone was literally taking the boss thing very seriously now. "Jinx?"
"Yeah," she answered promptly.
"When we get to Sevika's, I want to ask you some questions, and lay down some rules."
"Got it." No fight. No argument.