//That night//
Metallic clanging echoed through the room as Mylo repeatedly tossed a ball against the metal plate in their lounge. Everyone, except Orion- who left early to see Ekko before heading home- was lounging around, though a simmering irritation lingered amongst the group.
"Vander and him worked on something together, "Vi grumbled, her forehead against her hand. "Why don't they trust us?" She gestured at the group with frustration.
Scowling, Mylo threw the ball a little harder, "Orion's off doing badass jobs, and we're stuck with these lame throwaways."
"It's not fair!" Vi stood up abruptly, while Claggor tried to reason. "Maybe nothing really happened?"
Vi scoffed. "Come on, do you honestly believe that? We've been out late doing gigs for Vander. We don't come back looking like that."
Claggor sighed, his tone low and uncertain, "Yeah..." before glancing over at Powder. "I just hate being treated like a kid."
Powder frowned, fidgeting with her stuffed bunny before asking softly, "Why don't we do something?"
"Oh- See that? Even Powder agrees!" Mylo exclaimed, sitting up in disbelief and gesturing dramatically at her. His outburst drew annoyed looks from both Claggor and Powder, but Vi's eyes lit up with determination. Her gaze darted around the room before nodding, "No...no, you're right."
"We need to prove we're not kids anymore!" Vi declared, raising a fist with resolve. "We'll show them we're ready."
An uncomfortable noise emitted from Claggor as he shifts around, his expression tinged with worry. "I don't know, guys. Remember Old Hungry? What if that happens again?"
"Don't worry about that. That was months ago!" Vi said dismissively, shrugging it off. "We got this! I'll find something."
The gang exchanged glances, hope flickering faintly in the room. Smirking, Vi planted her hands on her hips, tilting her head confidently. "We've grown, gang. This time, we'll show them what we're made of!"
----------------
By the end of the day, restrictions across the city had lifted- though tensions remained high. There was no news of trials, only an emergency meeting from the Council to address the kidnapping and crime in the Undercity. Orion saw nothing implicating him, which brought some relief.
Throughout the week, he searched the Sump coast for any factories but found nothing connected to Silco. He informed Vander of his search, who grunted in reluctant agreement, instructing him to immediately report any findings and not to engage.
By week's end, with no results, Orion decided to start searching along the riverline instead. On the bright side, he had been collecting various gears, fans, and mechanical components during his outings, tossing them into his old brown sack.
After sleeping and heading out early, Orion found himself walking to the Last Drop again to deliver more "goodies" to an eager Powder before stopping by Benzo's shop. Powder had a growing collection of explosion gadgets- none of them working of course- but it was still cute.
"Hey Powder! More parts-" Orion called out as he briskly walked through the door before coming to an abrupt halt. The gang, usually cleaning at this time, wasn't there. Frowning, he searched both the front and back but didn't find them.
'Weird... I guess they went to the arcade?' Orion thought, heading over there. Yet again, no gang. Uncertainty started to prickle at Orion's conscious, his grip tightening on the bag.
'Where is everyone?'
Orion, puzzled, paced toward Benzo's shop, racking his brain for any events happening today. As he rounded the corner, he spotted Ekko bouncing in place at the entrance with a wrench in hand, waving enthusiastically.
"You got more parts?!" Ekko called out eagerly.
Orion chuckled with some relief as he approached. Ekko's energy mirrored Powder when he got excited, his eyes widening at the size of the bag.
"Awesome! I get first dibs?!" Ekko asked, bouncing between his feet even faster, his arms close to his chest with excitement.
"It seems like it's your lucky day!" Orion nodded, smiling as he set the bag down for Ekko to dive into. "Say, have you seen the gang? I haven't run into them at all this morning."
Ekko paused, his arms completely inside the bag. "Oh, uh, Vi said they had something important to do. Didn't tell me much, though."
Shrugging, he resumed digging and continued to respond nonchalantly. "You know how she gets when she has a plan- gets all secretive and stuff- usually when it's for a gig."
Orion stiffened, his mind was racing as he looked up at the morning sky. Thoughts were coming to him, and he wasn't liking it.
Ekko looked up at him curiously, "Why? Did something happen? You look on edge."
"Ekko..." Orion began slowly, "Remember how I asked you to keep an eye out for any fancy topsider who comes down and doesn't haggle?"
"Yeah!" Ekko exclaimed, standing abruptly. With expectation for praise, he rapidly shot out, "He came after you left yesterday! I did what you said and charged him triple! How did you know? Is he a super-wealth merchant? Oh- yeah- yours is inside- AAA"
Ekko words were cut off when Orion suddenly grabbed his shoulders, hands trembling.
His actions completely unnerved Ekko, who saw the panic and fear in his eyes. "Hey- I did what you asked! What's wrong?" Ekko stammered fearfully, his gaze darting between the ground and Orion.
Fearing the answer, Orion sucked in a sharp, deep breath before asking, "Ekko, did you follow him when I told you not to?"
No response came, only a guilty look cast toward the ground.
"EKKO!" Orion unconsciously shouted, causing him to jump and yelp in his grasp. "Tell me how to get there, NOW!"
----------------
///Meanwhile, as Orion was jumping between locations///
Vi, Claggor, Mylo, and Powder made their way across the Bridge of Progress. Vi's face held determination, Claggor looked down nervously, Mylo hummed a mischievous tune, and Powder's wide eyes darted around with curious wonder.