Chapter Text
Silco along with his lieutenants escaped the burning cannery. It was a close thing, for Shimmer is volatile when exposed to flame as the exploded cannery demonstrated. He wasn't sure how many of Vander's would be rescuers survived, but seeing a flash of blue heading towards the cannery, he followed, like it was a symbol of his triumph, his men trailing behind. The flash of blue belonged to a child, and she was heading straight towards the blob that he presumed was Vander, and the sobbing pink haired girl who had done so well against his soldiers. Silco hid his knife and approached the girls. The pink one spotted him first, baring her teeth and grabbing the blue haired child behind her. As he got closer, Silco realized he was face-to-face with Felicia's children, faces he thought he'd never see again.
"Careful girl, fighting won't do you any good, especially with dear Powder behind you." He said, his voice sweet as honey to assuage the girl's fears.
"Why should we trust you? You kidnapped Vander, you tried to kill me and when you failed you detonated a bomb!" Violet yelled. She was angry, but beneath that anger was a sliver of fear. Violet no longer had her gauntlets and was protecting her sister. Should things go poorly, there was a high chance her and Powder would die.
"Child, that wasn't me. You think I would detonate a bomb in my own home, my base of operations? That was the actions of a rogue enforcer, so hellbent on hunting you down they would stop at nothing to find and kill you." Silco replied, twisting the narrative. He had no idea who blew up the cannery, but he knew it wasn't him or some enforcer. Maybe it was a third party, or maybe it was little Powder, peaking from behind Violet's legs.
"Still, why should we trust you? You took Vander, he was going to turn himself in and you took him."
"Yes, I took Vander. Do you want to know why I took Vander? Do you not remember your old Uncle Silco, Uncle Silly you used to call him? Vander did this to me, dragged me down to the river Pilt and tried to drown me in its fetid waters. Did you never ask him why he wore the bracer on his right arm?" Silco bitterly replied. He hated bringing up that memory, but if it would get the children on his side, he would do whatever was necessary.
"Vander yelled at anyone who asked where you were... but I thought he was grieving. He wouldn't do that to you? He wouldn't..." Vi muttered. Silco could see her brain dissecting this new information as she slowly came to the conclusion Silco had been pushing her towards.
"Violet" he said, disappointed by the shock she expressed at her name, "He was not named "Hound of the Underground" for nothing. He was a savage of a man before he gave up on Zaun, on the dream."
"And? You still kidnapped Vander, it doesn't matter if he tried to kill you, you took our father and tried to kill us!" Vi yelled back. Damn, he had been hoping the girl was more focused on his story than her memory.
"I didn't take Vander for power or control over the Lanes. I kidnapped him because he gave up on Zaun, on our dream for freedom. By taking him and showing him the army I created, I had hoped he would join me, fight by my side against Piltover once more. I was willing to weaken myself if it meant my brother would return to me. But no, he refused. He was willing to die for a cause but unwilling to fight for our freedom." Silco monologued, pushing past Vi's interruptions to spin the narrative. He was hoping to convince her to fight with him without having to explain the full story. They were on a time limit. The Undercity would hear of Vander and Benzo's fate, Sevika could die from her injuries, and plans needed to be made. "I regret that you children had involved yourselves. I didn't want to fight you, I wanted to recruit you. You, your siblings, Vander, and myself would take the fight to Topside as we had years past."
He could tell Vi was still unconvinced, but he knew with the slightest push he could convince her, he only had to press down on her one weakness. "I wanted a better future for Powder. One where she could grow up breathing clean air, feeling the sun's rays on her skin, having clean food and water. Vander's refusal to fight would deny Powder those pleasures, those opportunities."
Vi looked back towards Powder, and then looked at him. He could see that he had succeeded. It would take more lectures, more half truths, and while they would undoubtedly never agree on Vander, Silco knew he succeeded. However, turning Felicia's children to his side also came with two problems. Those being he had to care and nurture them. While it would be possible, caring for a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old while planning a revolution would be no easy feat, and he could spare no time or manpower, not with Shimmer destroyed and the Undercity ripe for conquest.
In the face of the burning cannery, he made his decision. As purple-black smoke rose behind him he realized he had to change tactics. He had no idea where the doctor was and almost all of it burned up from the bomb someone had set off. He suspected Powder considering she was not among the children he had recently ordered to die, but he wasn't certain. Analyzing the girls, hearing Powder's quiet sobs as Vi attempted to comfort her, he made his decision. Zaun would be free, no matter the cost. He would keep Vi, train her, mold her into the perfect weapon to fight Topside, a warrior who could lead his “soldiers” to victory over their oppressors. Powder would be sent somewhere safe, far from the fighting, but in a position where Silco had easy access to her, both to visit and also dispose of. Whether she set the bomb or not she was a 9-year-old. Maybe she would be more useful when she was older, but holding her as a hostage would be more convenient.
As Marcus ran up, late as usual, Silco had made his decision. “Marcus” he rasped “Take the blue haired girl, Powder, Topside with you. It isn’t safe for her here.” He leaned in close, ensuring only Marcus could hear, “Lock her in Stillwater. Solitary confinement if necessary. Keep guards posted to make sure she stays safe, but she isn’t to leave until I give the order.”
“Silco, you know I can’t do that. This wasn’t our deal. You offered me four perpetrators and now two have disappeared. You’re giving me one slip of a girl. How is that meant to assuage the council from their bloodlust?” Marcus tried to pull away, but Silco wrenched him back.
“Worry not, deputy. You’re a smart man, you had to be to have such success. You’ll figure something out.” He stares at him as his bad eye throbs in pain. “And if you don’t, well, I would hate to pay a visit to your beautiful wife. She’s 8 months pregnant, no?”
Marcus looked at him in horror, staring as if he made a deal with the devil himself. He stalked away, silently cursing himself for agreeing to meet with Silco and landing himself in this mess. Sure, there were ways to get a child thrown into Stillwater, but he’ll need to ensure she isn’t seen by the council, yet has documentation that she deserves Stillwater. It would involve paperwork, but he’ll do anything to keep his deal secret and his family safe.
Silco returned to Violet and Powder, watching as they stood by Vander’s enlarged corpse. “Girls, I have an announcement. It is not safe here anymore. I will be sending Powder away to a safe place where she’ll be protected 24/7.” Vi took a deep breath, preparing to fight Silco on this decision, however he held up his hand up to stop any disagreement her. “I know you dislike this Violet, and I admire your dedication to your sister bu-"
“Dislike it?! I HATE IT! There has to be another way! There has to be! We just lost Vander, Mylo, and Claggor. She needs me and I need her. It's cruel for you to do this!” She wrapped her arms around her sister. Both their bodies shook as they held onto each. They had just lost everyone, no way would they willingly separate from each other.
Silco shook his head. “There isn’t. Think about it, with Vander gone, chaos will run rampant. The Undercity must be united, Zaun must be united, and right now it is no place for a 9-year-old.” Placing a hand on her shoulder he squeezes. “Do you want her surrounded by death? Unsafe from both Topside and those who would take advantage of a young girl, a child? When we are free from Topside, Powder can return to us. I swear it.”
Marcus returned to their little group and grabbed Powder by the arm. “VI!”
“POWDER!”
"Marcus, release her." Silco yelled, raising his voice for the first time in the presence of the girls. "Children, I know you have a bad memory with Marcus, but he was forced to brutality by the old sheriff, Grayson. She hated us for existing, and forced her cruelty among her subordinates, Marcus included. I know that he will keep Powder safe. I swear it on the friendship I once had with your parents. I would never willingly put either of you in danger, and Powder must be kept safe."
Powder and Vi still fought to grab onto each other, but they were held back, Powder by Marcus and Vi by Silco. Powder struggled and tried wriggle out of his hold, but was comforted by Silco's silver tongue. "Powder, I know you wish to fight against enforcers, and it is admirable, but not every enforcer is evil. He is taking you to a safe place where you will be protected." Staring at Marcus, "Some enforcers can be quite good people, when given the proper incentive."
Powder eventually quit struggling, and Marcus released her arm, certain that Powder was following behind.
As they rounded the corner, Marcus covered her nose and mouth with a chloroform rag, knocking her out and making it easier to drag her to the Stillwater funicular. Once she was out cold he muttered softly to himself or to some higher power, “Forgive me.”
Vi broke down in tears as she watched her sister be led away by an enforcer. Silco might trust this one, but Vi hadn’t forgotten the way enforcers gunned down her parents and family friends during the bridge massacre, or how close her siblings, her sister had been to getting arrested or killed just days before by the same enforcer.
“Do not cry Violet, your sister will be safe with Marcus. I will keep my eye on him and make sure Powder is safer than she could ever be down here.” Rubbing her back he tilted her head up to face him, “We need to make Zaun safer for Powder when she returns. You are Vander’s prodigy and an excellent fighter. You will need that strength in the coming years. You have much to learn about Zaun, about the revolution, about everything that has been hidden from you. Listen to me, follow my orders, and Powder will return to return to us. Do you understand me?”
Vi looked up at him with red, tear-rimmed eyes, “Yes, what do you need?”
Silco, Vi, and his gang turn and walk the other way, to The Last Drop, and to prepare for war.