Chapter 73: Paradox (3)

Creaaak

The elevator door groaned as it was forced open with a crowbar. Several Enforcers outside raise their rifles instinctively- but lower them when they recognize their uniforms.

Their weapons lowered, but suspicion remained.

"What the hell happened?" one barked, stepping forward.

A sergeant followed, his eyes narrowing as they scanned the ruined interior. Sparks still flickered from charred panels, wires dangled uselessly from the ceiling, and the air reeked of burnt metal.

"Hextech crystal malfunction?" Silco raises his voice, exhaling with both relief and exasperation. It wasn't entirely fake, he was glad to be out of there. "We're lucky to be standing. The crystals haven't been replaced, have they?"

Frowning, the Sergeant leans forward, peering deeper inside.

"No," he mutters. "The new Hextech crystals won't be in for weeks. You're damned lucky it didn't fry all of you! Just him?"

He gestured at Orion, still leaning heavily against the disguised henchman.

Silco nods, "Just him. He needs immediate medical attention."

The sergeant grunted and motioned toward the stairs. It would be a painful climb.

"Name and ranks?"

Silco rattled them off smoothly, barely missing a beat before adding, "We were delivering food to prisoner 626."

"626?" The sergeant paused and his eyebrow quirked. "How's he doing? Greyson wants an update."

"Same as always," Silco replied indifferently.

"Figures. Can't expect anything more. I don't know why she keeps asking. If that prisoner is so important to keep asking, why not just move him topside?"

Silco gives a knowing smirk under his mask. "Oh, you know how it is. They pretend to care. But when it comes time to act? Nothing changes."

"You're not wrong." The sergeant let out a humorless chuckle. "I had a friend- good guy- got a little too drunk and ended up in Dredge for a month. They called it an 'unfortunate accident'. He hasn't been the same since."

Silco feigned a sympathetic nod. "My condolences."

The sergeant waved them through, already scribbling on his clipboard. "Get him patched up. You're clear to move."

"Thank you," Silco responded before the three of them shuffled past. Without hesitation, he grabbed Orion's other arm, draping it over his shoulder as well.

Whatever power Orion held, he couldn't risk it going berserk. It was a rare occurrence, but Silco wasn't about to gamble with a wild card- this time, he was taking direct action.

Orion could hardly believe it, questioning if this was just a dream. Even the henchman seemed momentarily stunned, but neither of them questioned it aloud.

Never, in all his years locked away- or in everything he knew about Arcane's story- had Orion imagined this moment. Silco, guiding him up the stairwells of Stillwater Hold in a prison break.

Despite being exhausted, they reached the top successfully. Orion's occasional arcs of energy lashed out, stinging them through their uniforms, but they persisted.

More concerned glances and routine questioning- conversations mirroring the one with the Sergeant- but they made it to the tram that heads back to the Undercity without incident.

Finally, seated inside the empty carriage, Silco exhaled. Sweat clung to him beneath the Enforcer's uniform, his breathing heavy. He was never one to get his hands dirty, but today was an exception.

"Be glad, Orion," he smirked, speaking his name freely now that they were alone. "Tomorrow is Progress Day. Your first taste of freedom in years."

Orion let out a breathy, exhausted chuckle, his body slumping against the wall. Another small arc shot from his shoulder, briefly illuminating the dim tram.

The distant chimes of the clocktower carried over the water as the tram neared the shore.

"Happy Progress Day," Silco murmured mockingly.