Jayce Laboratory,

5th of Grune

Piltover was renowned across Runeterra for a multitude of reasons: intelligent citizens, advanced hextechnology, an egalitarian democratic-republic mode of government. It was clean, a model of modern efficiency, and had an efficient police force guaranteeing a peaceful existence throughout its borders.

But, that wasn't the most famous reason.

Compared to the giant metropolitan capitals of Ionia, Noxus and Demacia, Piltover could be seen as tiny. Its borders could be fully engulfed by a single borough of one of the larger neighbors. Its intellect on the other hand easily matched the most powerful cities in history.

Jayce prided himself on being part of the reason Piltover was held in such respect. His own laboratory – more of a workshop in his opinion – had developed some of the best personal armor man could design. The sentries and soldiers wore his designs while protecting the city, a point of pride both for his immediate neighborhood and himself. Even the Champions in the League of Legends had begun looking at his handiwork, the most recognized elite body of combatants on the face of the earth.

To wit, his current project: the analysis and development of a new isotope that had literally been discovered only a scant few months before. He carefully placed the crystal in its resting place; the base of a converter he'd designed. It had taken him weeks to set up that particular device. Without false humility, Jayce doubted even the acknowledged genius of Heimerdinger's Yordle Academy could have been up to the task. He was just that good.

Music pounded in the background, almost matching the lucent beams in the crystal; a complex rhythm of sub-bass tones overriding a simple melodic theme. He'd always worked better with constant sound in the background; the more orderly the rhythm, the better he worked … but of course, the mental rest gained from an occasional bout of chaos couldn't be ignored. Regular beats of heavy metal – recorded from sessions in the metallurgy stress-test area – combined with a few tunes by a gifted neighbor made for an incredible mix.

Singing however, was out of his grasp. Listening to it was good, but actually vocalizing distracted him. Practicing his dance moves though, made for a good workout. Efficiency, entertainment, work – who could want anything more?

Jayce stomp-clicked his way to the power-test table, snagging a clipboard en route. Energy gates – again designed by himself – eased movement across the long laboratory, charging the micro-circuitry in his lab coat into accelerated movement. He paused at the end of the room, the subject of his attention glimmering in the recesses of its socket, welcoming him.

"Thirty seven peta-hex, incredible!" Jayce made a note, "Increasing load another five percent and … fifty two? Fifty two peta-hex? That's amazing!" The tiny white crystal, barely the size of his palm, glowed even more brightly, displaying no stress from the extra power requirement. "Yes!"

"Whatcha got, kid?" An unfamiliar voice startled Jayce.

He turned, flashing a smile at the pink-haired young lady standing at the door. She looked amused for some reason. The music quieted, sensing the presence of a new individual in the customer-welcome area. "Hello, I didn't hear you come in."

"Yeah, I noticed." Her grin widened, "So, you're the famous Jayce? Mister 'Defender of Tomorrow?'"

Jayce groaned, lightening the emotion with another smile. "I have no idea where that last one came from. Probably some yordle frat party, it sounds like something they'd come up with." Spotting a cleaning rag, he wiped his hands free of grease. "But, I suppose you didn't come in here to debate my dubious cognomen, how can I help you?"

Her nose wrinkled, cutely in his opinion. "Cogno – you sure you're Jayce, the techmetallurgist? Not some yordle on steroids?"

"You wound me," Jayce played up the role, putting a hand over his heart, leaning back. She finally giggled, smirking at him. He leaned forwards, dropping the act, "Well, since you are in Jayce's Lab, I happen to have that name on my coat, and I also appear to answer to that name … I would have to say I am Jayce. Who are you?"

Her head came up, smirk still going at full power. "I'm Officer Vi, Piltover Police."

"Ah, one of Piltover's Finest." Jayce gestured, the command ring on his finger correctly interpreting his gesture and lowering the volume too background levels. He studied the woman, squinting slightly, "Aren't you a little short to be an officer?"

She snorted, reaching behind her back. Both hands returned covered in massive bits of armored metal, cables stretching to her upper back. Entire plates covered her forearms, ending in smooth shoulder guards that he'd almost missed seeing. "Cait says I need armor, and you're the one to talk to about it."

He glanced at her hands, interest in the woman herself vanishing at the prospect of new technology. "Hextech hardware? Mining rig, Delta five series …" he reached out, tapping the knuckle of one massive gauntlet. "Heavy usage, must have been upgraded a few times. Who does your repair work?"

"Yeah, that'd be me." her teeth shone in a smug fashion. "I'm here for the armor, not as a model for the toys."

Jayce shrugged, "Your choice. You'd make a fantastic model," he waited a beat, "the gloves would be a nice bonus too."

The blush crossing her face made him chuckle, "Alright, back to work. Do you have your measurements along?"

"My what?"

He sighed, "Come on, I'll set up the machine. Does your armor's power pack need calibrating while you wait?"

She shrugged. "I've never had it done. So long as it lets me punch, I don't care."

"Oh, no-no-no-no-noo!" Jayce stopped walking and turned to face her directly. "A properly calibrated power supply will extend the – ah – punching life immeasurably! Hook it up right, and you could even increase the force behind each motion!"

Light purple eyes widened. "I can punch harder?"

Jayce seized her lower arm, tugging insistently. "Come on, this is more important."

She pulled back, then let herself be drawn forwards. "You sure about this?"

"Sure I'm sure," Jayce let go, letting the energy gate crackle to life, propelling him to the table on the far side of the room. He flashed a winning smile back at the woman. "Come on, we'll get a basic diagnostic done in a minute, then we can upgrade it. Free of charge for our city's finest!"

Vi followed him, a bit more slowly than he had. "Fine, but no funny business, y'hear?"

"His hand flipped over his chest, "Cross my heart, hope to fly. Now enough talk, let's work!"

Time passed quickly, metal and circuits bending to their will. The already formidable gauntlets became full-length, extending from the hands all the way back to Vi's elbows. Their width increased to nearly double the previous existence, spreading in a wider guard that spanned over a foot across. After copious amounts of discussion, the shoulder-guards themselves became a lower-profile pauldron, easily compatible with the armor that would be finished soon.

After that, it was on to cosmetic features … proving that Vi was every bit as female as anyone else. Jayce wasn't exactly sure why the color scheme required so much thought, but if it made her happy, he was happy.

So engrossed was he, that Jayce failed to hear the next appointment arrive.

"Ahem, Mister … Jayce is it?" A foreign accented voice grated.

Jayce shot upright, but his hands – held very close to the circuits inside the closure point of Vi's armored power supply – remained rock steady. He withdrew them, careful to not touch the metal edges with the soldering iron. Its heat was limited solely to the tip, but even heavy gauge armor would melt under its influence.

"Victor! So good to see you in person!" Jayce dropped the tool, letting it rock dangerously in its cradle.

"Vell, I finally had time on mine hands, and ven I heard you'd been selected for developing a new energy source," the man shrugged, "how could I resist?"

Victor's metallic voice, filtered by his mask, was rather flat; if he hadn't been corresponding with the famed Zaunian inventor for so many months, Jayce would have mistrusted it immediately.

"Oh, where are my manners," Jayce smiled at the newcomer, "Victor, this is Officer Vi; Officer, Victor, of Zaun."

The pink-haired woman surveyed the Zaunite briefly, then bared her teeth in a smile. "Charmed. Your pardon if I don't shake your hand …." one massive gauntlet flexed in his direction.

"Oh, vhat I insist," Victor leaned over slightly, and a third hand extended around a shoulder – only this appendage was made purely of metal. It grasped her oversized hand, lost in its grip. "It is a true pleasure to see a fellow-minded student of human advancement."

Vi's mouth twisted to one side. "Yeah, pleasure."

The helmet canted, fiery eye-slits looking down on her shorter frame. They glowed brighter for a moment, casting a bright light over the woman. "Ah, perhaps not qvuite as devoted as I'd thought. Your evolution vould be advanced much more qvuickly if you vher to make such admirable augmentations … permanent."

She snarled. "Slice myself up because I'm too lazy to put on some gloves? No thanks."

"Vi!" Jayce pushed forwards, "It was just a suggestion—nothing personal meant by it I'm sure."

Vi snorted, then stomped towards the door, metal gleaming. She paused, and then turned back, "Thanks for the tune-up. I'll leave you to your friend."

Jayce winced as she slammed the door. That could have gone better.

"A fiery temper, she. A vorthy mate, should you decide to reproduce, yes?" Victor's mask swayed back towards Jayce, almost reptilian in its movements.

The unexpected advice almost cost Jayce his equilibrium, but at the last moment he regained his mental footing. He swallowed. "You came to discuss the energy crystal?"

There was no mistaking Victor's interest. Although the operations he'd undergone had apparently removed all emotion, there was still an obvious amount of excitement. "Certainly. Please, show me vhat you will."

With only a small glance at the empty doorway, Jayce walked his guest through the security measures. Electric sensors wired into darts, signals that went directly to the Piltover Police department, mechs waiting in the walls … while he had not gone into the massively overdone systems, he had a tasteful, high quality hardware.

"Ah." The helmeted man's breath of appreciation escaped as an almost sibilant hiss. Jewel-like eyes studied the crystal, an almost palpable greed visible.

"So then, shall we get to the testing?" Jayce held out a lab coat to his visitor.

Victor tore his gaze away, "You vould allow …? Indeed, you have the soul of a scientist. Yes, let's."

Jayce strapped a pair of safety goggles over his eyes. "Then to work!"

A/N: Still playing around with the chapter length; shorter chapters make for faster updates, I hope. Unfortunately FF seems to be blocking people from uploading documents, so I'm using a workaround at the moment (big thanks to Nightstride!). This story should have another 2-3 chapters in it, then I have a request I'm working on, just as a little heads up on my schedule here. Until next time!