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Chapter 24: Reunion
In Piltover, Jayce urged Heimerdinger, "Professor, we can't keep waiting like this. We need your help."
Heimerdinger's voice was firm as he replied, "These weapons are being built to counteract magic. Piltover was founded to escape war, and I will not agree to this."
"But the pressure from the Undercity is immense. Once they use Hex crystals to make weapons, Piltover will be the one to suffer!" Jayce persisted.
"I built both Piltover and Zaun. I will not allow my inventions to be used against Zaun," Heimerdinger stated decisively.
"If that's the case, I'll have to forcibly use the unstable Hex crystals to create weapons. If we wait until Zaun creates theirs, it will be too late to find solutions," Jayce countered.
"I won't agree to this, and the council won't either. Your Hextech still needs time to be refined," Heimerdinger maintained.
Jayce argued, "Human lives barely last a century. We don't have time to wait for evolution. We need leaders who look to the future, not cling to the past."
Heimerdinger warned, "But this could cause more casualties."
"You have no idea the pressure the council is under from the raided merchant ships. You are undeniably the Father of Piltover, and we can't thank you enough for your efforts over the years. I believe it's time for the beloved founder of this city to enjoy a well-deserved retirement," Jayce concluded.
Heimerdinger, hearing Jayce's words, was in disbelief: "Don't do this, child," he said with a tremor in his voice.
"I'll convince the other council members," Jayce declared, leaving Heimerdinger alone in his lab, standing there in a daze.
In Zaun, Vi asked Ekko, "Do you know where the Hex crystal is?"
"We just got word that Jinx used an electromagnetic gun to tear apart a ship. I believe the crystal is with her," Ekko replied nonchalantly.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's find her," Caitlyn urged.
Vi paused for a moment and then said, "Let's move."
On the other side, Jinx reached the highest point in Zaun—a place where she and Vi, as children, often shared their thoughts. She looked at the flare in her hand, recalling what Vi once told her: "No matter where you are, just light it up, and I'll find you, I promise."
Jinx took a deep breath, a strange nervousness building in her. What if Vi didn't come? What if she did? Then she decisively lit the flare and held it high. Blue smoke spread from the flare in her hand. Behind her, she imagined the figures of Mylo, Claggor, Vander, and William who had died for her. She stood like a statue of a torchbearer, at peace, with no sign of her usual madness.
In Silco's office, Silco was venting, throwing everything from his desk onto the floor, except for the ashtray and toys graffiti-ed by Jinx. "Such a troublesome little brat," he muttered, sitting in his chair.
"Perhaps it's fate," Phil's voice came from outside the door.
"What are you doing here? Weren't you going home to sleep?" Silco was surprised and slightly embarrassed, wishing he hadn't thrown things around, as he didn't want his outbursts to be seen by others.
"Jinx is back. I told her Vi's back too," Phil said, sitting down in a chair and pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"You were a bit too hasty, Phil," Silco replied, now a bit anxious.
"I think we should let her decide for herself whether to be Jinx or Powder," Phil suggested.
"Jinx is better suited for surviving in the Lanes, Phil," Silco insisted.
"You're just afraid of losing Jinx."
Silco paced back and forth in his office. "Alright, then why aren't you going back to sleep if you're not afraid of losing her?"
"I am afraid, but I believe she won't leave us. Once she became Jinx, there's no going back to Powder." Phil downed his coffee. "I'll keep an eye on Jinx to prevent any danger. If anything happens, you can reach me with that pager I gave you."
As time passed, the blue smoke gradually dissipated, blending into Zaun's smog. Jinx watched, her eyes shifting from expectant to despondent. She stared at the spent flare in her hand, frowning hard before hurling it away. The Hex crystal, stored in a small box, also fell to the ground.
"Powder."
A familiar and affectionate voice called from behind, leaving her momentarily stunned. She turned, and upon seeing that familiar hint of red hair, her eyes welled up. "Vi?"
"Powder." Vi's voice was thick with emotion as she rushed forward to embrace Jinx.
Caught in Vi's embrace, Jinx was somewhat dazed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hugged Vi back tightly, savoring the long-awaited reunion.
"I'm sorry, Powder. I swear I wanted to come back for you. I did, but I... I got caught." Vi's voice was rushed.
"By Marcus?"
"I don't know him; that doesn't matter now. I just didn't expect to see you again." Vi cupped Powder's cheeks and pulled Jinx into another hug.
From afar, dressed in the Kingdom Machine Wolfmecha, Phil watched the scene unfold with mixed emotions. The mech's zoom capabilities enabled him to see the details, and he witnessed Jinx's heart waver and open up.
"Is it really you?" The long years apart made Jinx hesitant to believe.
"It's really me. Of course, it's me, Vi. Your sister. I'm here. I'm back, right here," Vi said, her words tumbling out.
Jinx couldn't hold back her tears any longer; they streamed down her face. "Everything's changed. I've changed too."
"I know, I understand, Powder. Whatever you did was to survive," Vi quickly reassured her. "So did I. It doesn't matter; our reunion is what truly matters."
Behind them, Caitlyn and a masked Ekko ascended the stairs.
"An Enforcer? And Firelights?" Jinx suddenly pushed Vi away and aimed her gun at the two. "Who are they?" Jinx looked to Vi, seeking an explanation.
"You're Jinx, aren't you? The one responsible for the Upper City's explosions and the theft of the crystal?" Caitlyn's question was ill-timed.
"Don't be alarmed, they're friends," Vi said, two drops of cold sweat forming on her forehead, looking at Powder, trying to calm her down.
But by then, Jinx's eyes had changed, devoid of the previous joy, now filled only with caution. Her sensitive heart craved security, and Vi's presence with her Enforcer companion caused the heart that had just opened to close up once more.