Sakura

Chapter 13

The heels of Ahri's uniform clicked down the marbled passageway. Nearly everything was marbled here, the walls, the floors, all spotlessly shining a beautiful white with deep black striations. Finally coming to stop, Ahri stood in front of what appeared to be a large glass wall. Beyond the glass loomed a familiar massive figure. Gears starting to whirl to life and sounds of steam gushing, the figure moved forward on six intimidating mechanical legs. Lights slowly faded on and Ahri looked up at Urgot.

 The Noxian Urgot was a fearsome foe for the Star Guardians. He left nothing but destruction and ruination in his wake across Runeterra. It was one of the Guardian's crowning achievements to bring him and his army down. In exchange for sparing his life the Noxian agreed to use his wealth of intellect in helping Ahri and the Guardians. Of course, the Noxian did not agree to this right off the bat. It took several years of... convincing.

 "Urgot," Ahri said, with a nod of greeting as her purple eyes looked at the ritualistic scarring and muscled torso of the Noxian.

 "Little fox," The man breathed out through his mask that was permanently attached to his face and one of the only things still keeping him alive.

 "Are there any new developments on the lotus?" Ahri asked, looking around in the now brightly lit room beyond the glass.

 "That depends, did you bring what I asked?" Urgot asked, his eyes showing amusement. A mechanical leg reached out, stroking the glass with a muffled screech. Sparks shot off from the contact and large bright arcane symbols flared to life.

 "You've been provided with everything necessary to break down the formula," Ahri said, now beginning to walk along the glass to get a better view of the laboratory in the back of the room. Urgot followed as she walked, his hulking figure blocking much of the view, this brought Ahri to frown deeply.

 "I thought we were past these games, Urgot."

 "I play no games, little fox." Urgot turned his head, looking down at the Guardian.

 "Perhaps you need a few more years of solitary to get you to be a bit more cooperative," Ahri said, her eyes narrowing at a small form that now moved along Urgot's legs. The Noxian looked down at the brown calico cat that appeared, rubbing its face against the bottom of Urgot's mechanical legs. A few more cats of various colors and types appeared, all meowing silently behind the glass and rubbing along the mechanical legs of Urgot.

 The Noxian eyes flashed with what Ahri pegged as fear, then anger before fading to a crinkle of humor.

 "I concede, little fox," Urgot said, his mask causing his voice to come out in a deep rasp.

 "Noxians never concede," Ahri said, approaching closer to the glass, her eyes narrowing suspiciously towards Urgot as the man visibly flinched at her words. "What are you playing at, Noxian?"

 Urgot gave a deep sigh, his eyes burning fiercely towards Ahri.

 "Saying those things, little fox, only stokes long dead coals. Do you require my assistance or not?"

 Ahri stepped back with a shrug, looking as though she could care less about Urgot's question. Deep down the Guardian leader knew that Urgot, despite being an abhorrent genocidal maniac, was one of the most brilliant mechanical minds in Runeterra. His intellect didn't end with mechanical things though, he was brilliant in the ways of alchemy, working with some of the most deadly poison and gases invented in modern warfare.

 "You're not the only one I have working on this, Urgot," Ahri lied with ease. "And while my other team may not have anything right now, that may not be the case for long."

 "An entire team versus just one, little Noxian," Urgot chuckled, his laugh crackling through the mask. "I'll take that as a compliment, little fox."

 Ahri's fox ears pinned back as she glared at Urgot.

 "Save one life, keep the cats," Ahri threatened and the Noxian looked down at his mewing companions. "Save no lives... and well..." Ahri smirked.

 "Very well, little fox. I got the picture." Urgot's voice was tight.

 "See that you do," Ahri said, turning and strutting away, her hips swaying as she left the Noxian with a small wave.

Lux reached up, gripping the vine as her voice huffed in exertion and her feet crunched against the broken cement beneath her feet.

"I feel as though I've seen these before..." A smooth feminine voice spoke thoughtfully.

 Lux nearly jumped out of her skin, turning to see Syndra standing a few feet behind her. How did she manage to move so quietly, Lux wondered.

 "Oh?" Was all Lux was able to manage before the purple haired guardian Syndra was pushing up against her from behind. Reaching up and plucking the flower that Lux was struggling to get, Syndra stepped away as Lux felt a blush burning up her ears.

 Syndra turned the flower over and over in her hand, her mind a million miles away, not even looking at Lux. At this point several other guardians emerged from the dark alleyway. Jinx took note of the flush that spread along Lux's face.

 "You good, boss?" Jinx asked, looking between her and Syndra.

 "Wha- what? I'm fine. We should have that analyzed ASAP, Syndra." Lux said, nodding towards the woman who, in a daze, had started wandering off. "Um, Syndra?"

 Janna gave a weary look towards Syndra, not speaking. Jinx could feel the tension rising and gave a shake of her head.

 "Syndra!" Jinx shouted, snapping the Guardian woman from her reverie.

 "Zyra-" Syndra whispered aloud, and Janna balked.

 "No, I'm Jinx," the red head wagged one of her long crimson braids towards herself.

 "No, ZYRA," Syndra said, looking towards the sky before disappearing in a burst of bright light.

 Janna gave a deep sigh and looked towards Lux who looked quite confused.

  "Who's Zyra?" Lux said, concern etching her features.

 "An old friend..." Janna said, looking up to where Syndra had disappeared, her features pulling together in worry. "And foe..."