-Undercity Tram Station-
Silco smokes his cigar while talking to his henchmen. Laughter and boasting echo from thugs who felt this was easy.
Indeed, it was too easy. There was going to be a problem, and Silco knew it.
The problem was that half of his forces were now across the tram, so he couldn't exactly up and run. That was also not the way of his people. If he did something like that now, people would begin to question him and turn their backs on him.
And so, from the toxic mist of the Undercity, pale armor glints under the sickly lights and chemtech glow. Noxians, in force, with Enforcers beside them.
Greyson. Kiramman. The foreigners. That man. He stands there, smirking triumphantly as a large woman clad in armor, bearing all the marks of a warrior and the aura of a leader, steps forward. Ambessa.
"Surrender now," Greyson shouts, stepping up beside Ambessa. "And there will be no bloodshed tonight."
Even from the shadows, Silco sees Ambessa's head twitch and can't help but smirk.
Behind him, he hears his henchmen backing up, unnerved by the might and discipline of the Noxians and Enforcers standing side by side. Two nightmares, allied, ready to slaughter them. Silco can hear the rustling and knows some are exchanging glances.
"Topside couldn't play the game themselves, I see," Silco remarks disdainfully. "So they brought someone in who is willing to act in their stead."
Raising his hand, thugs behind him began to move.
"It is early, but we must play our cards now if we want to win."
A faint hissing noise sounded behind him, followed by distorted gurgling and bubbling. High-pitched whining as weapons begin to wind up. Silco pulls out his gun, watching his enemies carefully, and slots a Syntixi gem into his pistol.
Greyson started to step forward, clearly looking to negotiate, but Ambessa placed a hand on her chest, shaking her head. The young Kiramman's eyes darkened and she cocked her gun.
The atmosphere tightens.
The silence before the storm.
----------------------
-Stillwater Hold-
Orion rests his head against the warden's podium as the next round of prisoners comes up. There is now a crowd. People cheering and hollering gleefully. Some are embracing each other, others crying at the thought of freedom finally at hand.
And they're all gathered around the podium, with Sevika standing atop it and Orion seated beneath.
"Was that the last one?" Orion asks.
"Yeah, that was the last of them," Sevika replies.
His eyes drift over to the surviving Enforcers tied up off to the side, then wander the crowd again. It feels good, but also a little wrong.
Some of them he can literally see their crimes written on them like "Kill Count: IIII IIII IIII" or "I KILLED *****! FUCK THAT GUY!"
Sighing, Orion stands and walks forward. Sevika jumps down, walking beside him, and the crowd parts for them while still cheering.
"Alright, let's start getting everyone back to... the..."
His words trail off as, in the distance, faint echoes of gunfire and clashes ring out. Shades of purple and orange tinge the horizon with mini explosions. Sevika slowly walks up next to him, exhaling.
"Well shit. Things just got complicated."
"Get on the trams, now!" Sevika shouts, waving at the crowd. "Use the boats too! We need to get everyone out of here by any means! Our forces can't hold out forever!"
----------------------
-Undercity Tram Station-
The trams screech to a halt and burst open. Scores of people run out haphazardly in every direction. Orion and Sevika step out and send the tram back, letting the lower ranks continue the evacuation on the other side.
A field of corpses rests in front of them. Scattered dead Noxians, dead Enforcers, distorted Shimmer bodies in cybernetic suits, Syntixi weaponry.
'Silco pulled out all the stops…' Orion thought, frowning.
"AGH! Let me go! Let-"
"FUCK YOU, PIG-"
His head snaps up. Sevika is standing there, frozen, with a heavy mist before her. Orion's face contorts, his chest tight, knowing deep down what the reality is.
His steps echo on the wet concrete. Even with the shouts and protests, they're easy to hear as he walks up beside Sevika. And before them?
The Noxians. The Enforcers. The Kirammans. Sheriff Greyson. And Silco on his knees, bloodied and bruised, but alive.
Sevika, in a quick glance, looks emotional. Her chest is heaving as she comes to the realization: this is the end of the line. This is it, despite all her efforts.
But Orion?
His eyes, filled with hatred and rage, are fixed on Greyson. And Greyson returns a cold, hardened stare with resolution in her eyes.
"Desperate people commit desperate acts," Ambessa comments, stepping out. "Though I am surprised. You should've suffered more casualties in your assault. How did you do it?"
Genuine curiosity from a maiden of war as she eyes Orion through her warrior's mask. When he didn't respond, she continued.
"This man, Silco, he is cunning and efficient. But his weaponry should've alerted us sooner," Ambessa said. "If not for my own Noxian spies keeping me informed, you may have succeeded tonight. But who is this skilled warrior, this wolf, who was working with you? Tell me who it is, and your lives may be spared."
Of course, Sevika blinks and glances at Orion.
'You just had to look,' he thought.
"I see," Ambessa said, her weapon still dripping blood.
"And why do you fight?" she asks.