Arcane Anew (Rewrite)

Dusk settled as the gang departed. Above, in the Promenade level, the last rays of sunlight could still be seen. From Entresol, one would have to be on the rooftops to catch even a glimpse of glittering lights. And from the Sump level, it was already pitch black, with the dangerous nightlight already taking hold.

A typical gang formation: Vi led the way with Powder beside her, fiddling with her device. Claggor and Orion walked along the flanks. Claggor on Powder's side holding a bucket, and Orion on Vi's.

'I'm definitely the fifth wheel when the gang's together,' Orion thought.

Mylo had been with them earlier, a bucket of red paint sloshing about in his grip. He'd taken off in the opposite direction toward a fancy advertisement billboard which allowed Orion to slot in. If he hadn't, Orion would've been trailing behind the group the entire time, just watching their backs.

"Should we really be doing this?" Claggor asked uncertainly.

"Why wouldn't we?" Vi tilted her head. "Vander gave us this job."

"Yeah, but... what if we get caught?"

"We won't! We got this. Just be ready to run if things go south."

"Mmm..."

"What is it? Why are you getting cold feet now?"

"I just..." Claggor glanced down at Powder, then across at Orion. "Never mind."

Frowning, Vi glanced at Orion too before looking back at Claggor. "He can handle himself. You only need to look after Powder if we get separated."

The gang stopped after rounding a street corner. Their target came into view: a closed shop on an empty street with stained-glass windows and a sign that read, "Placidium Alchemical Remedies."

Huh. Is that Ionian? Orion tilted his head, eyeing the unique curvatures and green paint that stood out against the drab environment. The shingles above the overhang weren't metal- they were... bamboo?

'Unwelcome foreign competition, huh?'

Despite that observation, the gang continued forward. When they reached a cobble crossing just before the shop, Orion hopped down onto a narrow ledge. One misstep and he could've faceplanted into the toxic runoff and had a very bad day.

A thick sludge clung to the canal bed below the gray waters. It could ruin any surface, coating, counter, or flooring. Drinking from it, whether from desperation or stupidity, often meant sickness or death. That was, unfortunately, the fate of many Sump rats.

For their purposes, though, the decades of chemical runoff made it an extremely effective but dangerous tool. And here was Orion, handed the bucket, scooping it out like water from a sinking ship. The runoff was only about a foot deep. So as long as he was careful, he wouldn't have to worry about skin contact.

Vi tilted her head, staring at the fresh paint, unique style, and natural materials. A sadistic smile crept across her face, excitement dancing in her eyes, before she glanced back at the group.

"Let's get started!"

Picking up a rock, she hurled it at the window. The silent street echoed with the sound of shattering glass.

Very quickly, they got to work.

Out of sight, Orion could hear Vi's destructive rampage as he passed the sludge-filled bucket up to Claggor.

Claggor grinned. "Yeah, she likes this part."

"I bet," Orion chuckled.

As Claggor ran toward the shop to hurl it, Orion's gaze drifted to Powder. She bounced in place with excitement, her head moving side-to-side like a hyperactive squirrel or bunny. Her wide eyes darted between the destruction inside and the street around them.

She was clearly torn, wanting to watch the chaotic destruction but also not wanting to disappoint by failing to keep watch. Her fidgeting fingers around her gadget gave hints at this too.

Occasionally, Vi's rampage prompted Powder to giggle. It was infectious. Orion chuckled again as he took the bucket back from Claggor to scoop more.

The process repeated for a good two or three minutes before a metallic clinking drew Orion's attention, just after Claggor had rushed back inside.

"Oops," Powder squeaked. Her gadget had slipped from her hands and rolled under some debris. She dropped to the ground and stuck her arm through a hole, trying to retrieve it.

Orion worried she was going to cut herself on something sharp and was about to say something when a glint of light caught his eye.

"Gang! We gotta go!" Orion whispered loudly as Claggor began to exit, pointing up the street.

Two silhouettes- imposing, heavily built figures in blue uniforms- rounded the corner through the haze. Their heavy breathing through gas masks only added to their unsettling appearance.

'Enforcers! Not good!'

Claggor's eyes widened in fear. He turned to echo the warning to Vi. Immediately, she came sprinting toward the exit, her eyes locked in the direction Orion pointed.

"Still unnoticed," Orion began, and Vi's expression started to ease. "We just need to-"

Jinxed.

During that brief moment, Orion had taken his eyes off Powder. They all had. A loud ping, followed by rattling, echoed as her makeshift metal bomb bounced across the surface toward the Enforcers.

Tick-tick-tick-tick-

"Huh?! Get back!" one of them shouted, shoving his companion roughly.

Poof!

A thick cloud of harmless blue dust puffed up at their feet. They froze, visibly confused- then angry. Their iconic goggles glinted menacingly as their posture shifted from startled to furious with clenched fists.

Jinxed.

"Stop right there!"

"Run!" Vi shouted.

She rushed forward, grabbed Powder by the wrist, and booked it into a nearby alley. Claggor and Orion followed suit, sprinting along the canal through the streets. Behind them, heavy footsteps pounded the pavement as the Enforcers gave chase.

It was frightening- bolting through the green-tinged, smoggy streets at dusk, never knowing what lay around the next corner. But they knew what was behind them: the harsh, muffled commands of Enforcers ordering them to stop.

Orion's lungs screamed as he breathed in the toxic fumes and smog. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, leaping haphazardly over streams of sludge and nearly slipping on the wet cobble multiple times.

"AGH!"

Rounding a corner, Orion heard Claggor's shout. He skidded to a stop. Claggor had tripped and gotten his foot stuck in a gutter. The Enforcers were already next to him, laughing mockingly.

'Shit,' Orion thought. 'This isn't good. I can't take those guys with this body.'

He cleared some distance, then quickly jumped out of the canal.

'But I'll be ousted if I leave Claggor behind. I need to try.'

Orion slipped into an alley and doubled back, breathing heavily. He grabbed a rusted metal pipe jutting from a trash pile. When he reached the corner and peered out, the Enforcers were gone. Claggor was still there, struggling, his foot stuck.

"Claggor!" Orion whispered loudly, checking the street before stepping out.

Claggor jerked, his head snapping around with a fearful look. When he spotted Orion, relief flooded his face.

"Thank Janna you came back! Help me out, please!"

It took a minute, but with Orion using the pipe for leverage, Claggor managed to slip his foot free.

"You're lucky you didn't break an ankle," Orion said, watching Claggor roll his foot with relief. "Any toes broken?"

"I don't think so? I jammed it pretty good!" Claggor replied, equally surprised.

It was then Orion recalled Vi telling Powder rooftop stories in Arcane, and a soft smile tugged at his lips. This was one of them- running from Enforcers, Claggor getting his foot caught. And instead of being arrested, they just left him until someone found him at sunrise.

'That must mean Mylo's on the run too. He'll be fine,' Orion mused.

Claggor, mistaking his smile for camaraderie, smiled back. "Thanks! I don't know how long I would've been stuck there."

"No problem. It'd be pretty fucked up if I left you."

"Not really," Claggor said slowly. "We just met. Heck, even Mylo would've probably left me there."

"Aren't you two friends?"

"Yeah, but you've seen how he acts."

"True. But that doesn't mean he'd leave you behind."

Silence followed, until Claggor nodded. "Yeah. You're right."

"By the way," Claggor added, "you handle him pretty well even though you just met."

Orion shrugged. "What's there to handle?"

"His jabs. His words. He upsets Powder sometimes. I thought that might be bothering you."

"A few hurtful words? What's new in this world?" Orion replied dryly, rolling his eyes. "Honestly it's kind of funny to listen to."

"Funny?"

"Yeah. If you don't take it too seriously. Friends do it all the time. You guys jab each other too from what I've seen."

Claggor grinned, nodding. "True. If I didn't like him, I'd just ignore him."

"Seriously though, thank you," Claggor said again, this time more earnestly. "I don't know what would've happened if you didn't come back."

Orion hesitated before answering. "Yeah... no problem."

Claggor's smile faded slightly, his eyes searching Orion's face. "Would you stay?"

It caught Orion off guard. He blinked, then nodded. "Yeah. Why not? Who'd turn down a family like this?"

The word 'family' struck Claggor visibly. His eyes softened before he chuckled. "True. Anyway, we should move. Vi- or worse, Vander- is going to kill us if we don't get back soon."

Orion nodded. The two of them straightened up, meeting each other's gaze, and nodded.

"Let's go."

And with that, they slipped into a nearby alley headed toward the Last Drop.