...Mom?
Mel hears her mother's voice in her mind, telling her about their family history from years back, when she was a little girl.
Ambessa Medarda: This was in fact your own great-great-grandmother, very good Melody. She was particularly interested in artifacts of the Arcane, which we think may have helped her in her battles. By her leadership, Noxus was at its prime, and we had conquered all we could see in all five directions.
A spark, a shimmer of light. In milliseconds, a large yellow barrier enclosing the council shot out, shielding them from the blast of the rocket. Thoom.
Mel: Jayce! Jayce! I —
The yellow bubble sinks through the floor as the concrete walls of the building crumble. The clock tower and huge hextech port comes crashing down as all the Councilmembers within the bubble panic, grasping at large pieces of falling debris.
Mel closes her eyes, waiting for her impending doom.
But it never came. When she opened her eyes, she was floating within the warm yellow glow. Everyone seemed to be levitating around, mesmerized by the supernatural energy that let people defy gravity.
Viktor: Wow. This is incredible. It exhibits the same magical properties as the hextech gemstones, but has a much more stable phenomenological structure. Could this be the key to unlocking the Arcane within the gemstones?
Viktor pulls out a mechanical tool from his cane and begins tinkering with objects in his lap.
She looks outside the bubble. Are we in... the lobby? The receptionist lets out a high pitched scream of shock, but the noise seems to be dampened by the barrier. Seconds later, the yellow barrier dissolves, and the council is whisked back to their feet. Black soot falls from the ceiling, filling the space.
Mel coughs on the hot smoke. It tastes like black sand, the kind she used to play in as a young girl. She looks up and stares at the destruction, trying to remember what it was that triggered when the rocket came into contact with the wall. But her thoughts are interrupted by Jayce, who throws her arms around Mel and pulls her close.
Jayce: Mel! Thank Janna we're alive. Are you okay?
The council is arguing amongst themselves, shouting about the different economic implications and the weak security within their structure. Jayce puts his hands on her shoulders and pulls her to the side with a worried look on his face.
Mel: Yes, I'm fine. This only makes it more pressing that we resolve disputes with the bottom-side. The rampant attacks need to be stopped. We're only going to see further chaos ensue in the coming few days from our people over our broken trade system and we need to keep things under control.
Jayce (pulling at his hair): Ohh no you don't. You're always so focused on work all the time. For heaven's sake Mel, we just almost died to a rocket blast and we still don't even know what the hell just saved us. Let's just take a day or two off and figure out what's going on.
Mel: A day off? Jayce, are you in your right mind? We cannot as leaders, simply abandon our people like this.
The Councilmembers begin walking off in a group outside, where enforcers deliver them gas masks and rush them to get clean air. Mel begins to follow, and Jayce notices some unusual scratches on Mel's gilded armor as she turns. He narrows his eyebrows in suspicion.
Jayce: Fine. Let's just take a day off or two and find my bottom-side contact now that we have the council's approval.
Outside, Jayce's mother awaits him, looking disheveled and squinting her eyes in disbelief. Jayce and Mother Talis silently walk up to each other and hug. His mother clutches his shoulder blades painfully, her fingers digging in.
Ximena Talis (whispering): Jayce, I thought I'd lost you for a second. Please, don't scare me like that again.
Jayce: It comes with the job, mother. Can't make promises I can't keep.
Jayce breathes a deep sigh and hugs her back, but quickly steps away to speak with Councilmember Kiramman.
Councilmember Kiramman: Oh Jayce. Caitlyn's going to be sick. You know how she is in times like these. Please find her and let us know we're okay, will you? I haven't seen her in days.
Jayce: Of course, I know. Tomorrow morning - can we set up an emergency announcement to the city?
Councilmember Kiramman: Of course. I'll get to it right away. And Jayce?
Jayce: Yes?
Councilmember Kiramman: Stay out of trouble alright? Caitlyn— she, she really needs you.
Jayce nods and runs off to the Kiramman estate in search of Caitlyn.
Vi and Caitlyn step into the workshop, where Ekko and Heimerdinger are huddled over a long mechanical animal-like figure. Heimer is tightening a bolt, while Ekko scribbles something down on the side of a detailed schematic of a tall bear.
Heimerdinger (noticing them step in): Ah! Word on the street has come in that our boy Jayce is to begin a speech in a few minutes. We were just about to head over.
Heimerdinger sets down the wrench and leaves the room while beckoning Ekko and Violyn to come join him. Caitlyn visibly relaxes and looks to Vi with a smile full of hope as they follow Heimer outside.
Vi: Come on, cupcake. Let's go see your old pal. That reminds me, I haven't told you about my little adventure with Jayce yet…
The scrappy elevator screeches to a halt, and the four walk down a dark, grimy alleyway to enter the bright streets of Piltover.
Caitlyn: I'm sorry, you did WHAT now?
Vi: That's not the point, that's not the point. Cait. They have the gauntlets. If those get into the wrong hands, or if worse, they figure out how to use the blue gem thingy, we're as good as dead.
Up ahead, a crowd of people surround a stage, where just Councilmember Kiramman and Jayce are sitting, discussing something quietly. They're alive. Looming in the background is the Hex Gate, which beams blue lights as a nondescript airship ports into Piltover airspace. Nearby, smoke billows out of the tall council building, which suffers massive damages on the upper levels.
Cait lifts her eyes to meet Jayce's, who brightens up as soon as he notices her. He looks extremely fatigued with bloodshot eyes.
Suddenly, Jayce steps up to the podium and leans in. He takes a second to adjust the microphone while the audience quiets down.
Jayce (clearing his throat): PEOPLE of Piltover