((quick crossover, plenty of unoriginality))
Day One of Crisis
Vander walks back in moments later with a hardened expression after assigning someone to watch the counter.
"Claggor, come with me. Tell me everything that happened in detail."
Claggor jumps up, "Yes sir," and runs out from the group to him. The rest of the gang follows his leaving, not daring to interject.
//Benzo's Shop - That Night//
After reaching Benzo's shop, Claggor waits outside and talks with Ekko who jumps in place asking excited questions.
"They believed it was the right thing to do," Benzo replied to Vander's struggle with the kids. "You can't protect them forever." Benzo looks down at his drink and adds, "Still, I can't believe that kid was a mage! It explains a lot."
Vander sighs, "Aye. It feels like one of the many puzzle pieces."
"There's more?"
"He's a kid with a lot of secrets. I wouldn't be surprised if he had more at this point."
"Ah, and someone was following them," Vander added, swirling his drink. Benzo joked, "A whole lot of someones from what I heard."
"Not Enforcers," Vander cuts his joking off with a serious tone. His gaze lowered, his expression darkening. "With this timing... There is only one other person who comes to mind."
"Silco." Benzo breathed out his name like a curse, frowning with displeasure. Vander nodded, clutching his arm brace, a firm reminder of their past conflict.
"If Orion's alive, Silco will see this as an opportunity," Vander mused openly, the grip on his arm tightening.
"Aye. And if he can't save and corrupt the boy, then he'll make him a martyr."
Vander gave a wry smile, "Aye. He's smart. But this time, we have the edge."
Looking down, Benzo was about to say something when the door opened, a chime of bells ending the conversation abruptly.
Greyson and Marcus stepped into the shop. While Greyson looked amiable, Marcus, even with a mask on, held a look of disgust and hostility.
Vander stared down at his drink, swirling it in his cup as Marcus stepped around him and the hidden meeting began.
//Abandoned Factory//
"You were supposed to watch them and not interfere," Silco's low tone echoed across the observatory.
Deckard grunted as a pipe was held to his throat. "I'm sorry. They just caught us by surprise!" He lied, trying to excuse himself.
"Now his accomplice is asking questions about you," Silco flicked the injection device, his crimson eye glowing angrily. "And that's not a risk I'm willing to take."
With the pipe pressed harshly against his throat, Deckard sputtered out, "The kids. It was their fault, the explosion in the upper city!"
Silco didn't let out even a grunt as he injected his corrupted eye with a needle and serum. "That was them?" Silco tilted his head. "What about the other boy?"
Spittle flew out from Deckard's mouth, "They left him behind! That girl was covered in his blood- I think! It didn't sound like he was dead!" He said in a panic, legs thrashing about as more pressure was applied.
"Vander's in trouble. So is Orion..." Silco mused, touching the corrupted skin around his eye. Standing up he casually strolls past them, "Smartest thing you've said boy. Get him a meal." The thugs begin dragging him off.
"Our timeline's moved up." Silco sighs, glancing to Singed as they begin further experiments with shimmer.