Author's Note: I'm back! I've been really looking forward to coming back to this one for a while now, so hopefully I do it justice.
Unlike my other fic, if you all have read that one, I'm really only thinking about the current chapter, but I do have an end in mind that I am making sure I don't mess up (it's pretty vague though). That being said, if you want a certain bot in here (champs are kinda limited as to who'd make sense), talk to me, and I'll see what I can do. As you can expect, a bot requires a champ, so I need to make the personalities at least somewhat match up.
Anyways, enjoy, and please feel free to leave a review.
Yordle Academy of Science & Progress, Piltover
Ironhide sped off, with Vi safely contained in his cab, towards Zaun, intent on leaving Viktor down and out. Vi lounged out in her seat, lifting her legs up on the dashboard as the Autobot sped through the streets of Piltover. The peace didn't last long, however, as Vi realized that her pilot didn't have the slightest idea as to what the laws of driving in Piltover were.
"Woah, slow down there red, you gotta stop at the red lights... and stay on your side of the road!"
Ironhide's voice resonated from the center console, filling the enclosed space. "Awh, well if it's a problem, why don't you do it yourself, Vi?"
"With these honkin' fists on? No thanks, I'll leave the driving to you, just follow my instructions!" Vi began coaching Ironhide on the basics of driving, as he picked it up quickly. Within just a few streets, he was obeying the basic traffic signals, and by the time they'd exit the city, Vi was pretty confident that he'd become a better driver than she'd ever be. "Good job red, you're pretty smart for someone that talks with your fists. You mind turning on the radio? It's too quiet in here."
The autobot complied, putting on some light electronica, at Vi's request. "So, what do I need to know about this Viktor punk? I'll give 'em a good clobbering as soon as my visual receptors pick 'em up!"
"Well, a few years ago, he stole something that was rightfully Jayce's, and started using it to build a bunch of machines. Jayce went to his lab and destroyed it, and the two have hated each other ever since. Now, Viktor's got his freaky robotic hand on another crystal, and he's doing the whole thing over again, only this time he's got a giant pet scorpion that almost killed me and cupcake. Together, if we can take out the big thing, Viktor should be a pushover."
"Sounds like a real punk. Don't worry Vi, nothing's gonna stand in our way. Viktor'll learn not to mess with Piltover anymore." Finally outside the city, and in the open lands between them and Zaun, Ironhide put the pedal to the metal, throwing Vi back against her seat.
"Woah, take it easy big guy! You don't want to wreck before we even get there!"
"I'm sorry Vi, I just want to get to poundin'. This Viktor guy's got me a blown diode and I ain't even seen 'em yet!"
Vi smiled, giving the dashboard an affectionate tap with her gauntleted fist. "We're going to make a great team...and an unstoppable one." Visions of riding into battle atop the shoulders of the bot danced through her head, as she imagined all the reckless possibilities having a twenty-five foot tall robot could offer. Satisfied, she threw her feet back up on the dash and reclined her seat, as the duo sped towards Zaun.
Viktor's Lab, Zaun
Meanwhile, on the other side of the waters that separated the two technological powerhouses of Runeterra, Viktor was still hard at work perfecting his newest creation. Already, the lower half of Urgot's body had been revolutionized, having replaced the cheap, outdated legs that he had used before with thick, durable steel, giving the Headsman's Pride a most terrifying base. Viktor had then set about repairing the arm that had been damaged during his siege of Piltover, and it was just minutes from completion. In place of his right arm, Urgot now had a three-rocket launcher attached to the side of his body, locked in place by thick pieces of metal that connected to his shoulder. Viktor had not yet worked out how to resupply the launcher with additional ammo, but instead had already created a nearly limitless supply of ammo that would have to be loaded manually. The imperfection in his design frustrated the inventor to no end, as he paced back and forth behind his control panel, scheming various ideas.
Skarner sat silently in his loading bay, awaiting further instructions, as he mulled over the past few days. Deep beneath the metal plating, the ancient scorpion still existed, though his thoughts had been severely tampered with whenever Viktor had set about revolutionizing him. No longer did he understand emotions such as pain or remorse. Now, he only knew destruction, and the beast sought nothing more than to exact it upon those that his creator wished to terminate. The fact that his mind had been so severely altered didn't bother the scorpion, though whether that was a part of the procedure or a side-effect remained a mystery. Still, the satisfaction that Skarner had gained from his brief rampage through Piltover had been glorious, and the being wished only to do so again.
In the distance the faint sounds of the Piltover duo approaching could be heard, only a few minutes away from Zaun, but deep in the heart of Viktor's lab, such sounds were nullified by the impenetrable walls and the din of machinery operating at all times. Viktor continued modifying his schematics, still focusing on a way to perfect Urgot's Acid Hunters. "Yes...this should do it." He uploaded the proposed design to his machinery, which immediately began removing and modifying the metal carapace as the changes were enacted. A belt-like mechanic was quickly incorporated into the design, allowing new rockets to be added while a second or third set were primed to fire. While it wasn't perfect, it was an improvement, and that was what Viktor was looking for in the moment. He wanted to improve upon the fiend's Noxian Corrosive Charge, allowing his two attacks to function in the beautiful harmony that they were famous for, as the improved rockets could not detect such a weak amount of acid. In order to make this work, Urgot would have to carry with him an acid that would rival the strongest of Singed's creations. Viktor immediately began work on the design, waiting until he had at least a passing prototype before attempting to incorporate it into the Headsman's Pride's being.
THUD. The sound reverberated all around the lab, very clearly coming from the rear of the facility. Viktor looked up from his calculations, confused, but passed it off as yet another scientific mishap from somewhere else in the city, returning back to his work.
THUD. This time, the inventor threw up his arms in anguish, staring around at the facility, finding everything in order. He walked over to his first Battlecast, Skarner, bringing the being to life. "My glorious creation, go check the back of the facility, and make sure that everything is in order."
Gears whirred to life, as the glow of Skarner's machinery lit back up after being dormant for several hours. "Operation, surveillance. Protection of the Creator is highest priority." In a flurry of steel, the scorpion charged off towards the rear entrance.
THUD. THUD. THUD. Skarner sat vigilantly at the rear door, watching as large indentations began forming in the rear walls. "Creator, we are being assaulted on the perimeter. Action suggested." Viktor begrudgingly walked away from his post, making his way towards the source of the noise.
"Destroy anything and everything that comes through that door. Do not destroy my lab under any circumstances."
"Understood. Our progress will not be abated." Skarner's arms began whirring to life, ready to saw down the first thing that entered his vision. He angled his harpoon down, preparing for the humanoid that dare assaulted his creator's lab.
Outside, however, was a surprise that Skarner could not have expected. Mercilessly, Vi continued pounding the walls, her augmented gauntlets leaving sizeable dents in the thick exterior of the base.
"Alright big red, your turn. I need to save some punches for the big guy." Ironhide grinned, winding up his arm, and delivering a devastating punch to the walls, leaving a massive crater in his wake. Again, he pulled back, as every piston in his body condensed, waiting to spring forth. With a surge of energy, the Autobot swung forth with all his might, as his hand shot through the wall.
"The gates have been breached. Let's go bash some Battlecraps" Ironhide reached around, grabbing a piece of the wall, and ripping it out with a screech of metal. With the space torn between the two machines, Skarner finally laid eyes on the Autobot before him, as a slight amount of hesitation entered his thoughts.
"Target not humanoid. Unsure as to how to proceed." Viktor was already well aware of the situation, as the first strike from the Autobot's fist had knocked over most loose objects in his lab. Hurriedly, he was working on releasing Urgot from the confines of the metal arms around him, as well as waking up the Headsman's Pride, so that he would be of use for repelling the unforeseen invader.
"You are capable of destroying that outdated machine, so do so!" After a few more button presses, all of the machinery around Urgot ascended back into the ceiling, as the sedative he had given the champion was quickly wearing off.
"Who are you calling outdated, punk?" Ironhide jumped forward towards Skarner, winding up for another brutal punch. The clang of metal resonated around the lab, as a massive dent formed on Skarner's carapace. Instinctively, skarner fired his harpoon, ripping a hole through the Autobot's leg, and penetrating the ground beneath him.
"Cease your movement, and prepare for disassembly." Skarner brought the two whirring chainsaws closer to Ironhide's torso, as Vi watched in terror at the unfortunate turn of events before her. Desperate, she ran towards the scene. As Skarner withdrew his harpoon, Ironhide could do nothing as his footing was pulled out from underneath him, until he was trapped hanging in the air, the deep gash from the penetration point still erupting in a shower of sparks.
Leaping into the air, Vi jumped on top of Skarner's arm, as she began throwing punch after punch of the ruined spot that Ironhide had dented only moments before. Behind her, Ironhide had began swinging wildly at the two saws closing in on him, repeatedly bashing them into the ground.
With one final swing, Vi exposed a portion of Skarner's purple shell beneath her, much to her surprise. "Wait...the real Skarner is in here? I thought this was just a machine!" She turned back towards Ironhide, as he continued repelling the limbs of the Battlecast.
"Ironhide, we can't kill this thing, there's a living creature in here. We've got to find some way to disable it!"
"Well hurry up quick Vi, I can't keep this up forever!" Both Ironhide's fists and Skarner's arms were showing immense signs of wear, as the repeated contact degraded the quality of both their appendages. Vi looked around at the massive body of the scorpion, trying but failing to find an exposed weakness.
Further back in the lab, Urgot had finally awoken from his short slumber, as the sounds of the ongoing struggle graced his senses. "Viktor, what is going on?"
"Urgot, we've got an unexpected intruder. Please terminate that Piltover scum." Urgot spun around, watching as the massive robots fought, with Vi standing atop the scorpion, confused.
"I can't get a clear shot with Skarner in the way. Tell your pet to turn around!"
"Skarner, take your captives outside of the city. We will deal with them there." Viktor stepped off of his overseer's platform, standing beside Urgot. "Let's follow them. Once we are outside the city, we should be able to dispose of them handily."
Urgot nodded, as he began carefully making his way out of the lab, following in the tracks of the scorpion. Far faster than Viktor due to his new legs, he reached out his arm towards the Creator, as Viktor jumped on the metallic shoulder of his work-in-progress. "After them!"
Skarner began his rampage out of the city, following in the same destruction that he had caused on his journey to Piltover earlier the same day. Ironhide continued his inevitable struggle, lashing out repeatedly at the scorpion that had taken him hostage. "Let me go you overgrown insect, or I'll...I'll do something!"
"Escape is statistically improbable. Cease your struggling." On the creature's back, Vi watched helplessly as they were drug further and further from their goal, as Viktor's lab disappeared amongst the dizzying infrastructure of Zaun. Having realized that Viktor had not created these machines from scratch, but instead had taken a champion hostage for his wicked experimentations made things worse. Killing a champion, no matter what the circumstances were, was a global crime, and even the heavily-augmented Skarner was still protected by those rules, as was Viktor.
Skarner's treads continued at full throttle, as he finally cleared the outer wards of Zaun, back into the open lands between the two city-states. Urgot was still far behind, physically incapable of keeping up with his predecessor, with Viktor still atop his shoulder, valiantly riding his creation.
Once a safe distance away from the city, Skarner's buzzsaws returned to full power, as he sought to dismember the enemy before him. "No biological components found. You are of no use to the Creator." The chains drew closer and closer to Ironhide's chest compartment, as the massive Autobot struggled to fend off his demise. He continued batting away the arms, his hands shredded from repeated contact with the running blades.
Vi decided that she needed to take action, or else her new ally was going to end up in a junkyard much faster than she would have liked. Quickly, she ran along the tail of the scorpion, using her gauntlets to latch onto any handhold that she could find. Once carefully positioning herself on the peak of the scorpion, the reached out to the chains that were keeping her comrade suspended in midair.
She latched onto one of the links, barely able to wrap her massive hands around it. She made sure to get Ironhide's attention, as he quickly realized what was happening, before proceeding to throw a punch at the chain with her free hand. As soon as contact was made, the fist extended itself, though the effect was not as heroic as Vi would have hoped. She barely managed to dent the chain, and the sudden thrust her gauntlet made only served to throw her off balance, as her hand bounced pathetically off of the link. Her arm flailed wildly as it recoiled from the hit, as Vi sought to regain her balance.
Skarner noticed the obstruction, but there was little the scorpion could do in terms of throwing her off. He began rolling around frantically, trying to shake the Enforcer off of his tail, but she held strong, the inhuman strength of her gauntlets cementing her to the scorpion's back. Again, she let out another punch, this time with the side of her fist, bringing down blow after crushing blow on the Battlecast's tail, until finally the chain snapped.
Ironhide tumbled to the ground, as his formulated plan went into action. He swung his legs out at Skarner, planting a foot on his face, leaving a sizeable dent in the Battlecast's head. Using the surprise to his advantage, he lept up on his feet, and threw a kick at one of Skarner's arms, throwing it out of place. He jumped up on the back of the scorpion, making sure to stand clear of the harpoon that had gotten him last time, and gave Vi a chance to climb onto his shoulder, before going to town on the Battlecast. He threw his elbow down onto the exposed crystalline skin of the scorpion, rending even more of the metallic shell that protected Skarner.
Recovering from the impact on his face, Skarner accelerated, with Ironhide still on his back, until quickly coming to a screeching halt. The Autobot was thrown off of his back, as he proceeded to accelerate forward again, chainsaws at the ready. Ironhide looked up, seeing the unwelcome sight of the Battlecast rampaging toward him, but couldn't react fast enough. The rotary blades dug into his feet, proceeding to shred the metal with relative ease, exposing and ruining the complex circuitry that lie underneath. Ironhide let out a groan of pain, before curling up his legs, momentarily sparing himself from the blades.
Slowly, Skarner advanced, as he toyed with his prey. He was well aware that escape was a statistical uncertainty for the machine before him, his feet far too damaged to allow him to walk. Steadily, he drew himself forward, as his tracks left deep imprints on the soft soil beneath him. "Your end is nigh. Comply with your discontinuation."
A brief glimpse of determination flashed through the Autobot's optics, as his survival instinct kicked in. "Not today, punk!" In a flash, Ironhide began transforming, as he grabbed Vi and flung the Enforcer towards his chest compartment. Gears began creaking, as mangled parts of the Autobot, heavily damaged from his quarrel with Skarner, tried to fit back into his vehicular mode, metal scraping against metal. The transformation was successful, however, and with Vi tucked safely inside the cockpit, Ironhide sped away from the scene.
"What are you doing, red? Viktor's out of his lab, it's the perfect chance to wreck his operation!" Always eager for violence, Vi desperately wanted to ruin his lab, and now was the perfect time to strike.
"You sure Vi? What if we get caught?"
"Oh come on, I thought you were programmed to think like me? Doesn't the thought of having a completely empty laboratory full up really expensive stuff get you going?"
Ironhide paused for a moment, weighing his options. "Well, when you put it that way…" The Autobot spun around, screeching to a halt. "You sure 'bout this? We aren't getting out of there without a fight?"
"Oh stuff it. We both know you want to lay waste to that place just as much as I do." Vi smirked. The advantages of having a robot designed to think exactly like she did were becoming immediately apparent, as she knew exactly what would make Ironhide tick.
"Blast it, you've got me there." Ironhide's voice resonated throughout the cabin, as he floored it towards Zaun. The Autobot easily skirted around Viktor and his Battlecast, who barely even noticed the car racing around them on the horizon.
Finally, Viktor and Urgot arrived at the scene, finding his assailants missing. "Skarner, where did they go? You were supposed to keep them here until I arrived."
"Subjects escaped using unforeseen methods. Status unknown." The ragged face of Skarner cowered before his Creator, failure being a new outcome for the Battlecast.
"Status unknown? They've run back to Piltover like the cowards they are! Let us return to my lab, and initiate repairs." Viktor lept onto his first creation's back, as he commanded Skarner onwards. Once again, his treads hissed to life, as the scorpion made haste towards Zaun. Little did he know, however, that he was quickly gaining on the unsuspecting Autobot, who had just arrived at the base.
Upon closing in on the lab, Viktor immediately recognized the sight of the Autobot that had begun ripping at various equipment, enraging the inventor. Seeing the sight, Skarner continued charging the base, setting his course straight for Ironhide.
The Battlecast charged headfirst into the unsuspecting Autobot, sending him toppling to the ground. Skarner continued forward, digging his treads into Ironhide's arms, effectively pinning the Autobot to the ground.
Viktor looked around his lab. There were machines that were broken, however, that could be easily fixed. However, what he noticed was missing was the crystal. He looked around for Vi, who had hid behind a broken piece of equipment, although the blue glow of the energy source revealed her location to the inventor.
"Skarner, keep this worthless piece of junk where it is. If it tries to escape, you are to extinguish its life force."
"Understood." Skarner's chainsaws whirred to life, as he pressed them just inches from Ironhide's vulnerable hands, still desecrated from the struggle that they had engaged in earlier.
Viktor jumped off of the scorpion, as he crept his way towards the Enforcer. The vibrant glow of the crystal still gave away her position, as she did everything she could to keep her presence hidden from Viktor.
"You have something of mine, Piltover scum. I would like to have it back." The laser on his shoulder began glowing, as he prepared for the Enforcer's reaction. There was none, however, as she simply stood up, presenting him with the cube.
"I'm not stupid, Viktor. I know when I've been beat." Viktor reached out, taking the cube back into his possession. With her arms free, however, Vi slammed her fist forward, landing it solidly on Viktor's gut, sending the inventor flying backwards.
"However, I'm not out yet, punk!" She smirked, and leapt towards her target, landing another punch on the strange device on his chest. It looked as if it powered the various mechanical components on his body, and to the Enforcer, that looked like the perfect target.
"Enough of this!" Viktor's staff sent a jolt of lighting towards the Enforcer, sending her crashing into the walls of his lab. Viktor stood up and reached into the his pocket, pulling out a Gravity Field. He threw it in the general direction of the dazed Vi, as it unfolded on the ground beneath her. A bubble of energy appeared overhead, as she was pulled down to the ground.
Vi looked up, staring viciously at the inventor glaring down at her. "What do you want, Viktor? You've got your cube, and we both know you can't kill me without getting a life sentence. What's your game?" She knew that Viktor couldn't resist laying out his master plan to her, and the more information that she knew, the better.
"Look at me. I have a machine that is capable of terrorizing cities completely and returning unharmed, and I am in the process of creating the ultimate siege weapon. I would like to see the authorities try and stop me." Small arcs of electricity began leaping around the head of his staff, as he pointed it towards the Enforcer. "I am curious though, who designed that machine you brought with you? I have not seen anything like it."
"Like hell I'm telling you that. My allies will get me out of here, and you know it. Who's going to help you when they do, metalface?" Vi spat towards the Viktor, giving him a disgusted look. Inside, however, the Enforcer was barely keeping it together. She knew that no amount of firepower would be able to subdue Skarner, especially since he was a champion. Viktor had managed to create the perfect defense, and for the first time since she'd joined the League, her life was in danger.
"My Battlecast will make short work of your pathetic friends. If they are able to take down a machine of that size, they can take on another one. Soon, the entirety of Runeterra will bow before me!"
Vi remained silent, as the effects of the gravity field kept her pinned to the floor. Due to the enormity of her gauntlets, she could barely lift them, let alone walk, and was forced to remain stuck within the small confines of the device.
Ironhide was still trapped beneath the overbearing treads of Skarner, unable to wrench himself free. Viktor walked towards the Autobot, inspecting the intricacies of the machine before him. "Tell me, how did you escape the clutches of my creation? It is clear that you could not outrun him, given your condition." Ironhide just stared into the cold eyes of the inventor, refusing to speak.
"Subject has alternate, vehicular form." Viktor nodded to his creation, and turned back to the Autobot before him.
"Fascinating…though that is quite an unoriginal concept for Jayce. He always was fond of that pathetic hammer." Ironhide growled, his optics focusing in on Viktor. "Tell me, what did they name you?"
Ironhide continued his silence, not willing to give into Viktor's inquisition. Even with his brief time around the Creator, he had already grown a deep hatred for the inventor, though he was unsure if that was his thoughts, or Vi's instincts.
Viktor paced around him, smiling beneath his mask. "Very well then, I have no need for you. Skarner, send him to the melting chambers. I am always in need of more scrap - ."
"Ironhide." he said, as Viktor stared triumphantly down at him. "That's what they named me. Ironhide."
"Who is this they, you're referring to? Do you mean to tell me that the pesky Yordle got involved in this as well?" Ironhide only nodded, as he admitted defeat. "Fascinating. I should have known Heimerdinger was involved with this, you are far too advanced for Jayce to have built you by himself."
At this time, Urgot finally walked back into the lab, exhausted from the run back. The fiend looked around the lab, seeing it in its current state of disarray, before fixing his eyes on the massive, red Autobot. "I see you have taken the perpetrator hostage. Congratulations, Viktor. Shall we return to my enhancement?"
Viktor turned to acknowledge the new arrival. "Unfortunately, Urgot, these two have caused quite a mess, and your evolution cannot continue as of right now. I will begin repairing the damage immediately." Viktor walked back towards his control panel, as the few pieces of machinery that were left intact began moving about, replacing the broken equipment strewn about the facility.
Soon, night fell, as the process unfolded. Vi remained, stuck beneath the repressive limits of the gravity field. Helplessly, she watched as Viktor easily repaired the damage they had wrought upon the lab. She knew that her friends back in Piltover would know that something had happened, but there was no way that she could warm them about Viktor. Skarner had easily subdued Ironhide twice, and the only reason that he had escaped the first time was because of her, and there was nothing that she could do in her current state. Even now, the scorpion stood triumphantly upon his fallen prey, chainsaws still ready to shred metal at the slightest twitch of Ironhide's arms.
The Battlecast had no need for rest, the energy from the cube providing them with the ability to stay vigilant at all hours of the day. Such capabilities were proving useful, as Skarner continued to keep his target subdued, until finally the restless arms of the Autobot ceased movement. Nearby, the final pieces of machinery were being repaired, as Urgot stepped back onto the platform, wishing for the enhancements to continue. With the rest of his body still comprised of flesh, his metal arm felt extraordinarily heavy, and had been weighing down on his shoulder all day.
"Are we ready to continue, Viktor? I would hate for the process to stay half finished."
Viktor nodded to his companion, stepping behind his control panel. "Yes, I believe everything is fully operational. Let us begin." During the time in which he was unable to work, Viktor had set about designing the basis for the rest of Urgot's new body, and the implementation would not be long. Soon, his second creation would be fully operational, and he would be able to begin testing, turning the prototype into a being of true, metal perfection.
"It will not be long until the world sees the true potential that I have. I must seek to gain additional subjects for my testing, so every corner of the world will know of my strength!"
Piltover Police Department, Piltover
Caitlyn had called another meeting with Jayce and Heimerdinger the following morning, having quickly realized that Vi would not be coming back. She was only waiting on the Yordle, who had some last minute duties at the Academy that he needed to wrap up. Jayce was sitting on the opposite side of the table, arms folded uncomfortably, as he gazed blankly at the ceiling.
"We have to get her back Jayce. We can't let Viktor keep her hostage." Jayce blankly nodded his head, blindly agreeing to the sheriff's words. He continued nodding, deep within his own thoughts, almost oblivious to the world around him. He was the one that had told Vi to accompany Ironhide, and his reckless decision had put her in this mess. The pain weighed deeply upon him, as if it felt like there was an emptiness in his stomach that couldn't be filled by anything.
"Jayce, you in there?" She rapped on the table, as he jolted back into reality.
"Sorry, I'm just...elsewhere."
"Well, so is Vi, and that's the problem. How are we going to get her back?"
Jayce stood up, throwing back the chair, as he slammed his fist into the table. "How do you know that she's alive, Caitlyn? What makes you think that that monster would choose to spare her as soon as he caught her?" He unclenched his hand, as he stared down into the table.
"Because I have to! Vi has been my partner for years, and I can't give up hope yet, and you shouldn't either." Caitlyn crossed her arms, and with a huff, sat down in her chair. The two stayed silent for several minutes, as neither would back down from their position.
Finally, Heimerdinger arrived at the Police Station, and made his way towards the conference room. As he entered the door, however, he noticed the two champions glaring off into the distance, and began assessing the situation. "I see something has happened. Perhaps I can be of assistance?"
Caitlyn composed herself, and motioned for the inventor to take a seat. "Indeed you can. We need to get Vi back, if we can, as well as Ironhide. Do you have any ideas?"
"Well, the Autobot initiative is still in progress. Perhaps we could begin design of another model?"
"And what purpose would that serve, Viktor clearly made short work of the last one!" Jayce curled his hands up, as anger seeped out of his body. "We can't just do the same thing and expect different results."
"And that is why I propose we use a different intellect, and I propose Caitlyn. Her cunning and investigative skills would be well suited for sneaking in under unfavorable situations." Caitlyn couldn't suppress the slight grin that formed across her face, as she waited Jayce's response.
"That sounds good, but don't forget that you're making a twenty foot tall robot. 'Sneaking' isn't something it'll ever be able to do."
"So I'll go with it, and I'll infiltrate. I've been doing it my whole life, Jayce. If any one of us could get her out, it would be me."
"But then we're doing the same thing again! We can't just keep throwing champions and robots at Viktor, there's not many of us left, and that's my fault. I was the one that told Vi that she could accompany Ironhide on the mission, and that is my responsibility to bear. However, I will not let you do the same thing, Caitlyn. It's too dangerous."
"Jayce, I'm not asking for your permission, just your acceptance. Vi is my partner, and I'm not going to sleep until I know her fate."
Jayce sighed, realizing there was no point in trying to change the sheriff's mind. "Very well. If you feel that strongly about it, then there is nothing I can do to stop you. Just please promise me one thing, Cait."
"And what's that, Jayce?"
"Be careful. I'm sure Vi's recklessness didn't help their situation, and I need to know that you won't make the same mistake."
Caitlyn simply nodded to her friend. "You have my word, Jayce."
An uncomfortable silence filled the room, as all three champions were unsure as to the next step. Finally, Heimerdinger broke the tension, his chipper voice lifting everyone's spirits. "Well, now that that's settled, Caitlyn, would you follow me to the Academy? You will be most instrumental in the creation of the second Autobot. Jayce, you are welcome to come and observe, as always"
Happily, Caitlyn nodded, and jumped out of her seat, leading the two champion out of the door. It was evident to her that Jayce wasn't happy with her decision, however, there was no changing the sheriff's mind on the matter.
As the three strode towards the academy, another uneasy silence filled the void between Jayce and Caitlyn, still mentally at-odds with the other's philosophies. "Would anyone like to propose a project name? I am currently welcoming all suggestions." Heimerdinger, partially oblivious to the conflict above him, partially not caring, was still interested in the design of his next invention.
Caitlyn was the first to pipe up. "Well, since it's going to think like and act like me, it needs a suitable name. How about...Prowl?"
Jayce nodded, the first thing the two had agreed upon today. "Sounds a little dark for the valiant sheriff of Piltover, but I like it. Besides, it suits you."
Caitlyn chuckled. "Are you trying to imply that I have a dark side?" Jayce intentionally ignored the question, instead staring straight into the piercing cyan eyes of the sheriff, eyebrows raised mischievously. "Well, you might not be wrong."
Meanwhile, Heimerdinger was still mulling over the words at the beginning of the conversation. "Prowl, yes. There's just something about that name!"
Author's Note: And there it is! Oh man I didn't realize how much I enjoy working on this one until I got into it, but I wrote the last three-quarters of this in one sitting, which is an anomaly for me. Anyways, I have two more chapters of A Ballad of Ice to work on before I come back here, since it's almost done (internal hype).
I lost track of how many times I went to Skarner's background page and just looked up a line he'd say and just be like 'hey, let's use that one right here.' Probably a dozen, in all reality.
As always, feel free to review or PM any thoughts that you have, be it fanfiction related or not.