Chapter 33: Long-Term Plans

Well? Say something already!

Despite his best efforts to make his mouth produce even a modicum of sound to extinguish the ever-growing quiet, Jace found himself at a loss for words. It had been mere moments since Nixilis' question tore all his spoken momentum to shreds, but he would have sworn that there was some time dilation magic at work. How else, he reasoned, could you explain the agonizing eternity that seemed to fill each utterly silent second?

Within these countable eternities, Jace's eyes darted back and forth over the gathered planeswalkers and guild members, all looking at him with heavy anticipation weighing on their faces. He desperately tried to remember how they looked just a little bit ago, back when he had let his emotions take hold of his tongue and direct it like a horse-drawn carriage. He had not really known what had produced such bluster, whether it was each prodding reminder of his failure as the Living Guildpact, the simmering discord between the guilds, or simply a need to try and replicate Gideon, the man who fell into the role of leader so easily that he surely did not notice when it happened. Jace had seen how the crowd looked at Gideon as he spoke, enraptured by his presence, seemingly ready to leap into action as soon as he gave the word. When Jace spoke, he saw none of that, only blank stares of observation or creased brows of confusion, just as he saw now. For a brief time, when the words in his throat sounded like his friend's as they entered his ears, he believed he saw what Gideon saw any time he spoke. But not anymore.

Come on, it's a fair question. You already knew what the plan was…

The plan. Not his plan. Behind him, Jace could feel Niv-Mizzet's aura hanging over him, making the hairs on his neck catch against the folds of his hood. Before the dragon spirit had reawakened, Jace had a brief respite where he truly felt in charge, like the people looking up at him now were actually there to hear what he had to say. Now, the specter lorded over him once again, a shadow reminding him that this meeting, this plan, this potential victory, had come from the mind of another.

You would've had to face it eventually if we want to put a permanent stop to the Dreadhorde.

Flashes of bitter indignation filled his clenched jaw. His eyes passed over Nixilis, staring at him with a graven, expectant sincerity. Jace could only wonder how that demon always seemed to know just what to say, what combination of roughly hewn snarls would unseat Jace's hard-fought composure each time without fail. Perhaps it had something to do with the shadowy mage beside him, who seemed to raise the stalwart Gideon's ire without any apparent effort.

You're stalling. If you don't answer soon, they'll all think there's something up between you and Liliana.

Was there? Even now, Jace still struggled to answer this seemingly basic question. It should be straightforward, right? They had offered Liliana an olive branch, a chance to put aside all that she had done to them in the past and join their side. He had been willing to forgive all of it, to move past it, and had been so happy when Liliana took her Oath. And then she had betrayed them, chosen Bolas over them, and now she was responsible for more deaths than he could count, and he knew damned well she would not bother to keep track. She was a villainess, plain and simple. So why could he not answer the question? By what eldritch force was his tongue so tied?

Say something. Anything. Just open your gods-be-damned mouth and answer them!

More than anything else, he wished that Vraska would meet his eyes. Besides their few fleeting interactions in the aerie and on stage, she remained distant, dedicating her fullest attention to her duties as the Golgari Queen. If she would only look at him, he knew she must have the answers he sought. He knew he could not erase what he had done to her, but there was always a chance, however infinitesimal, that maybe…

"Jace, are you there? Everything okay?"

At the provocation of Gideon's hushed voice, Jace quickly funneled his tempestuous thoughts to the back of his mind. He turned to his friend, who had spoken low enough that anyone beyond the first row was unlikely to hear, but had stepped closer to do so, which Jace recognized as a terribly public display. Gideon's face, as stoic as it always was when an upcoming battle loomed, would be unreadable to anyone who did not know him. For Jace, the telltale creases of worry that pulled at his features were as clear as a prism. Such a look had usually been a comfort, but now, he could not help but feel a twinge of resentment.

Jace refused to let anything show. He blinked a few times, hoping to center his thoughts and dispel any lingering fogginess. "Yeah, Gideon, I'm good. Just caught a little off guard is all."

"Are you sure? I know we discussed Liliana's involvement earlier, but we never really decided on…"

"It's fine." His words, cold and sharp and brief, cut Gideon off as a dagger would a finger. Jace had not intended to be so forceful, and by the shock on his friend's face, neither had he. "I made my decision as soon as she freed herself from her pact. She chose Bolas over us, and over the lives of everyone in Ravnica."

Before Gideon could voice more of the questions and concerns that played so obviously in every pocket of his sun-weathered face, Jace swung himself fully back to the awaiting crowd. He felt a brief flash of remorse at his bluntness, but he swallowed it down, making enough room for his words to finally dislodge.

His eyes returned to Nixilis, and as he affixed his gaze to the demon's, he hoped the animosity in his glare would be understood by him alone. "Thank you for raising such a salient point, Nixilis." His voice was hard and blunt like a lakeside stone. "You are correct, though the Elderspell seems to now be Bolas' primary means of controlling his army, there is a necromancer in his employ who is pulling the strings. Her name is Liliana Vess, and she is also a planeswalker. Her powers are great, even more so thanks to an ancient artifact known as the Chain Veil. She seems pivotal to Bolas' plan, and as such, she must also die before this day is through."

As the crowd began to murmur and shift in response, Jace could only focus on the growing lump that appeared dead set on constricting his windpipe. He had managed to answer the question without faltering, but the concerted effort it had required left him short of breath.

Why is this suddenly so hard to talk about? Jace mutely wondered, his inner monologue slithering back into the gap left by the pause in his speech. It doesn't make any sense. I've been saying that Liliana needs to… it was easy to say it before. When Gideon defended her, when Vivien or Ral or Lavinia needed an explanation, I didn't have a problem talking about it. I wanted it, and I'm pretty sure I still want it. Now that it's so close, that the plan is real and the people are willing to help, I should be even more ready. That would make sense, wouldn't it?

He would likely have continued interrogating himself for quite some time, but his train of thought was thankfully derailed by a voice in the crowd slicing through the incessant muttering.

"That is quite the plan you have thought up. And just how, exactly, are we to carry all this out?" Jace did not need to scan the upturned faces to recognize the signature growl of Sarkhan Vol. His eyes immediately focused on the volatile dragon-mage, who sat on his haunches by the room's rear entrance. His usually uncovered chest was now patched with bloody bandages, which were being meticulously administered by The Wanderer. She stood over him, wide-brimmed hat tipped low so that her focus was solely on mending a gaping wound in Sarkhan's shoulder. Though he grimaced through the clear pain from each tightening of the gauze, it was not enough to disrupt his fiery cadence. "I must assume that you have figured out more than simply listing the problems we face."

A snide retort entered Jace's mind, but he immediately dismissed it. He knew that now was no time to trade barbs, not when there was still so much to do. "Well, you'd be right in that assumption, Sarkhan. It's not simply enough to know what we need to do, but how we can actually do it. All the tasks I've laid out hold the same importance, and they'll be carried out as simultaneously as possible. We will coordinate groups for each of the tasks at hand: one group to deal with the Gruul and convince them to join us, one group to do the same for the Rakdos, one group to shut down the Interplanar Beacon, one to deal with the Immortal Sun, and one to stop the Planar Bridge. Once these are completed, we can recreate the Living Guildpact, which should then allow us to take the fight to Bolas and kill him and the last of his subordinates."

"Why not simply kill the necromancer now?" asked the faceless figure that had spoken up earlier. Their scratchy, inhuman voice sent an involuntary shudder up Jace's spine. He did not know why, but whenever they spoke, he felt as though the words were clawing at his brain, looking for a way in. He was confident that his mental bulwark was stronger than whatever they could do, but the brazenness of the attempt still left him unnerved. "Would it not benefit our efforts to put an end to this Liliana Vess as soon as possible? Surely it would weaken Bolas' ability to stop us without the person commanding his army."

The feeling of raking fingernails on his frontal lobe screeched with every word, burrowing far further beneath his skin than expected. Much like Nixilis, this planeswalker seemed perfectly adept at needling Jace's innermost discomforts, no matter how tightly he thought they were locked away.

"You raise a salient point," he said, trying to casually play off his unease, "but that mission is a secondary priority. Until we know where Liliana is operating from and how we can get there, we should focus on the parts of the plan that we can execute. Now, for…"

Jace, prepared to launch into the battle plan that had been brewing since his journey to Nivix, stopped mid-thought at the sight of a white hand shooting up from the crowd, straight and still as a bolt. At first, he was surprised by such a polite gesture, but once he recognized the hand's owner, the formality came as no shock.

"Yes, Tamiyo, do you have something to add here?"

The moon sage lowered her hand and nodded to him. "Well, Jace, I do not know how helpful this information may be, but I know from where Liliana is commanding these ghouls."

Jace's mouth opened slightly in muted shock. "Are… are you sure it was her? Did you find your way into Bolas' citadel or…?"

"No, when last I saw her, Liliana was operating out in the open. I'm quite certain it was her, as she was wearing the same dress as when we last met on Innistrad. She was on top of the citadel's roof, which I can only assume is the greatest vantage point for her to spread out her abilities."

"I can corroborate this story," Lazav added from beneath their obfuscating cloak. "My operatives who've infiltrated Bolas' lair confirmed that, before finishing the Elderspell, he was the only autonomous being inside. They also reported hearing a woman's voice from the roof, though they could not confirm an identity or any other potential occupants. From what it sounds, though, that was your necromancer."

"So, she's just out in the open, for all to see?" Jace recognized the harsh timbre belonging to Samut, who he found bearing a blatant look of contempt. "Such brazen arrogance. If she thinks she is safe enough that she can remain so exposed, we should show her the contrary. What can one planeswalker do if we send ten more to meet her?"

Tamiyo raised a finger, trying to get Samut's attention. "That may be more difficult than you say. At this point, Nicol Bolas is also occupying the top of the citadel so that he can continue to absorb the sparks taken by his spell. Sending people directly there may prove unwise. The surrounding areas, however, are fairly clear, aside from some rather ornery ravens. I am no tactician, but a dedicated ranged strike may prove more effective."

Samut nodded, and a buzz of agreement began to rise from the crowd's mercurial surface. Up on the stage, however, Jace felt like his control over this meeting was starting to slip. He had always meant for it to be more of an open forum, as they were searching for whatever fresh ideas or outlooks the gathered could offer, but now that the subject had turned to Liliana's impending assassination, it felt more like a train that had run off its tracks. He wanted to say something, to reorient the discussion away from this, but the restrictive sensation in his vocal cords returned.

Then, as if sensing the opportunity, Gideon stepped forward.

"Thank you for bringing this information to us, Tamiyo. As the person designated to lead this effort's attack strategies, I have no doubt it will prove useful in executing this plan. However, I feel that I must cede this particular task to another."

Confused muttering spread across the amphitheater like a rising fog. Jace, more surprised than anyone, turned to look over his friend. Gideon's face was still set, immovable and unreadable as a scoured statue, allowing only the barest movement as he continued.

"Please, everyone, allow me to explain. I do not think I am the proper person to carry out the attack on Liliana Vess, as I fear that my own judgement may be clouded when it comes to her. She was once a member of the Gatewatch. She was an ally, and I'm sure at some point, a genuine friend to us. I do not disagree that what she has done this day is an act of evil, but I also do not believe that that is truly who she is. I recognize this may be naïve, but I choose to believe in the goodness of people. I've seen it in her before, and no matter how much she does, I still believe I can see it again. Still, I have no desire to stand in the way of Bolas' defeat. As such, I think it would be better for someone without such attachments to carry out this part of the plan. Vraska, from what I've been told, this job may fall into the Golgari skillset. What say you?"

Jace's eyes flitted wildly between the pair, unsure how to unpack this unexpected proposal. In the pregnant pause that followed, while Vraska considered the option, Jace could have sworn he saw brief flashes of her peripherals looking to him, as if he held some weight upon her scales. He tried his best to maintain his composure, forcibly tightening his features to keep the sallowing anxiety at bay. Whether his efforts made a difference, he would never know.

"I suppose such a job would be best suited for someone of my talents," Vraska eventually answered with a light sigh. At these words, Jace's stomach lurched, bowing itself into an intricate knot. He wanted to speak, but unfortunately, all he could do was stand there, swallow, and let Vraska continue. "For such a powerful target, under all the surveillance in the city, I will require the strongest and stealthiest long-range fighters we have assembled here."

Gideon nodded, a hint of relief on his lips. "We will find such candidates once the meeting breaks. Thank you for taking on such an important task."

"Of course, I wouldn't be a proper queen if I weren't up for it. But I must ask, Gideon, if I am to be commanding this small detachment, then what shall you be doing? I hope you won't mind my saying, but your talents would be wasted simply directing the troops."

Gideon chuckled, an airy laugh that helped to loosen some of Jace's mounting apprehensions. "You always speak your truth, Vraska, and I thank you for that. I had considered leading our gathered forces, clearing out the streets and rescuing those in need, but after some lengthy conversation, I have come to agree with your point." Gideon looked to the crowd, finding Aurelia's luminous eyes shining back at him. Despite the vagueness, it was obvious to Jace who had steered Gideon's bullheaded righteousness in this new direction. "As such, Aurelia and her Boros lieutenants will oversee the pushback efforts on the ground and in the air. I suggest that all guilds elect some representative to help convey battle plans between her and your own members. Any planeswalkers who can still fight, listen to Aurelia, for I would trust no one more to lead me into battle." He gave her a quick nod, and Jace saw the faintest hint of a smile appear on her angelic face.

The indistinguishable mutterings of the crowd started to pick up again in the wake of Gideon's assignment, each now contemplating the conscription that their attendance promised. Before it could grow too loud, a series of small, squeaky voices, all speaking in perfect unison, called out above it all.

"Yes, excuse me! Everyone, hello, I have something to say!" The layered falsetto instantly garnered the room's full attention, bringing another round of relative quiet. Jace traced the voices to a space in the crowd that appeared empty at first, but after carefully craning his neck, he saw the floor was occupied by a huddled group of creatures no larger than his fist, with squat limbs, wide eyes, rounded teeth, and bright pink fur. They all seemed to move independently, but as soon as one opened its mouth to speak, all the others joined in perfect harmony. "I am sure I am not the only one wondering this. As you said, Mister Gideon, some of us planeswalkers will be continuing to help fight off these swarms of zombies, but Mister Jace has also said there will be groups dedicated to carrying out the specific missions. Now, even though I have lost several fractions of my spark today, I still have plenty to spare. However, I suspect the others here are not so lucky. So, I suppose what I am asking is this: just how many people will you need for these tasks?"

It took Jace a second to reorient his mind to the high-pitched, echoing words of the odd assemblage. Once he figured it out, however, Jace was almost thankful that this strange planeswalker had raised such a valid point, one that he had no trouble answering.

"You raise a good point… um…"

"You may call us B.O.B.," squeaked the creatures.

"Okay, B.O.B., yes, thank you for speaking up. That is something we were going to discuss soon enough, but know is as good a time as any, I suppose. For the… six missions we've discussed, we only plan to have groups of about four or five individuals carrying them out. With too few people, failure expounds, but too many makes things both more unwieldy and more likely to raise Bolas' suspicions. Those not selected, as Gideon said, will be continuing to help with the relief efforts. Getting Eternals off the streets, bringing citizens either here or out of Ravnica, making sure as much of the city can be salvaged once this is all done. While it may not seem as important as the steps we are taking to stop Bolas, rest assured that this plane's survival hinges on your efforts. We cannot simply accept a pyrrhic victory."

The sea of heads ebbed and flowed with understanding nods. Just beneath the surface of this acknowledgement, however, he could feel several questions start to churn, and it was not long before someone in the crowd seized the lull for themselves.

"Then who will be selected for these separate tasks?" chittered a humanoid mass of insects and bones, its strident words projecting from a motionless skull.

"And who will be doing the selecting?" asked a shirtless elf with long auburn braids. "I will gladly volunteer for whatever may be needed, but I won't assume that sentiment is shared."

"Groups require leaders," growled Nixilis, "and I have no desire to follow someone weaker than myself into battle."

As individual voices started to fly like lightning bolts, Jace held up a firm hand, trying to indicate the crowd's silence. It took some time before all the attendants noticed his gesture, but once they calmed, he let a small sigh slip from his lips before continuing. "You all raise valid points, most of which I and my allies here have given much thought. As Gideon indicated, those who will be helping the general forces in the streets will answer primarily to Aurelia, with subsequent guild representatives acting as the go-between. For these smaller-scale tasks, one of us up here will take primary command, but each one will still be carried out as a team. These are far too important to jeopardize with something as trivial as titles or stations, and I hope you all agree."

Jace narrowed his eyes over the crowd, lingering on Nixilis for perhaps a second too long. The demon merely met his gaze with a hellish glower. At this, Jace had to restrain the self-satisfied smirk that reflexively sprang to his cheeks, playing it off as best he could with a sharp turn of his head.

"But," he continued, "we have not yet discussed whom among us will be involved with which tasks. As you all heard a moment ago, Guildmaster Vraska will oversee the mission to deal with Liliana Vess. Gideon, since you ceded this responsibility and the command of the infantry, I must assume you already have a job in mind for yourself?"

The question came out a bit more biting than Jace intended, immediately recognizing the withheld emotions seeping into his mouth. Luckily, Gideon did not seem to mind, as he offered Jace a resolute nod and, to his great surprise, a smile.

"You never really needed telepathy to understand my thoughts, did you Jace?" A half-laugh exhaled from his nostrils, and Jace could only shrug, caught too off-guard to move much else. "Yes, I would never, under normal circumstances, relinquish my duty to another, but I do feel that my abilities can be best served elsewhere. That is why I plan to lead the team responsible for taking out the Planar Bridge. I know the plane of Amonkhet well enough, and I also believe I am one of the few people here who can survive going through the portal."

With only a few options left, Jace could not be too surprised that this was the mission that Gideon selected, but it was this final revelation that left Jace apprehensive enough to nearly shatter his neutral façade. He was not the only one shocked, it seemed, as emergent gasps and whispers once again filled Svogthos, readily filtering up to the rotten spires. From within the disquiet, Saheeli spoke up, her voice wavering with worry.

"I'm afraid that won't work, Gideon. Organic matter cannot travel through the Bridge, it's a simple law of interplanar transference. The Eternals can only cross through because of their shells. If you try to run through it, you will die."

Seeing the concern welling in her eyes, Gideon's incised features softened, and he raised both hands in a bid for quiet. "I understand your concern, Saheeli. I've seen what the Bridge can do and how the Eternals use it, but I have my own means of protection." Balling a fist, Gideon took a hard swing at his breastplate. Before he could smack the weathered metal, his hand bounced off his omnipresent aura, which momentarily flashed to life in brilliant gold. "I will not allow Bolas to so easily overcome my strength. This, I promise you."

"But are you sure it's worth the risk?" she countered.

"I do. Waging an attack through the Bridge, on another plane where our enemy has every advantage, will take all that we have. If such an effort failed and I had not risked everything I could, then that failure would be mine alone. If my actions may further this cause, even if there is only the smallest chance to do so, I will gladly shoulder that risk."

While Saheeli still seemed to hold some reservations behind her wide, brown eyes, the effects of Gideon's bravado were immediately felt within the room. Jace, however, could not be so easily won over. Sure, to the crowd who had only met Gideon a few minutes ago, what he said made perfect sense. But Jace knew better, knew his friend better. He looked to Gideon, and though it was wrapped in tattered cloth and obscured by his armor, he could still see the blackened edges of the scar he had received when the Bridge first ambushed them.

As if feeling Jace's eyes on him, Gideon turned and reflexively put his hand over the covered wound. Their eyes met, but neither backed down beneath the other's steadfast gaze.

"Are you sure you've thought this through?" Jace whispered from the side of his mouth, directed away from the mob below. "You can still be helpful elsewhere. Hell, you and I both know you'll put in more work than anyone else here no matter where you go. The only reason you didn't lose your whole arm last time was because of Teferi's magic."

"I am aware, but I am sure in my decision." Gideon's voice had no tremble or waver, as sturdy as wrought iron against the wind. "Earlier, I was caught off-guard. We all were. Had I time to focus my mana into my aura, it would have held. I won't be unawares again."

Jace stared deep into Gideon's eyes, and even without his telepathy, he could easily hear the full truth behind his words. He did not just want to do this, he felt he needed to. Gideon was no stranger to combat, to getting as good as he gave, but after everything, from their first defeat on Amonkhet to Liliana's betrayal to the Office of the Guildpact falling to rubble to this moment right now, he felt that he had something to prove. Though he would never say it, Jace could read it clearly within the abyss of his pupils: if I cannot do this, then how can I be the one to slay that dragon?

With a sigh he hoped played as flippant, Jace broke his stare. "Once you make up your mind, there's just no stopping you, is there? Like a damn minotaur at the first scent of blood. Well, I guess there's no point in me trying to stand in your way." From the corner of his eye, he cast one last look at Gideon, and behind his unchanged expression, he saw the barest hint of withheld gratitude.

I guess today really has affected everybody, Jace reflected, even someone as self-assured as Gideon. Bolas has that effect on people. All the more reason we need to stop him.

"Alright," Jace said, turning his attention fully back to the awaiting throng, "it seems Gideon will lead the mission through the Planar Bridge. Who are you going to need for this?"

Gideon crossed his arms in contemplation, and Jace could not help but notice how his fingers fell over his hidden scar. "I will discuss with Saheeli before we leave. The Bridge's magic is potent, so I'll need to know who could possibly withstand it and how best to shut it down when we get there." He cast his eyes out to Saheeli, who nodded firmly.

At this point, this affirmation was enough for Jace. The broad strokes of the plan were falling into place, the minute details could be worked out in a bit. For now, there was still business to conduct, far too much for his liking when Bolas was still impressing his will upon the world just overhead.

"Sounds good. Okay, next part of the plan is shutting down the Interplanar Beacon. Ral, this one's all you, correct?"

He looked over to the storm mage, huddled with Vraska, Kaya, and the young boy who had yet to properly introduce himself. While the others talked amongst themselves, presumably outlining the division of their guild duties, Ral seemed distracted, his eyes glassy and far-off. At the abrupt mention of his name, however, they zapped back to life.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, right. That one's all me. I assembled the damn thing, so I'll do what I can to turn it off. I doubt anybody here is truly acquainted with Izzet gizmometry, but I'll take all the artificers we can spare. Otherwise, it's gonna be a bit tough getting back to the tower. It's smack in the middle of the Azorius territory, and like Lavinia said, they aren't exactly gonna make it easy on us."

Jace nodded thoughtfully. "We can work with that. There's plenty of able bodies here who can help you out. Your job's gotta get done quickly, since until that Beacon is down, Gideon's team will be pulled right back through that portal."

"Yeah, got it, fast as we can. Unfortunately, I can't promise much of anything right now. Unless Niv put in a failsafe I don't know about."

Ral turned to the statue expectantly, its eyes still casting a dim blue backlight over the stage. "Unfortunately," Niv rumbled, "the Beaon has no such safety measures. It was designed without flaws or weaknesses to exploit. When I conceived of the device, I believed I needed to do whatever I could to keep Bolas from interfering with it. I thought the Beacon would be Ravnica's salvation. But it seems I was simply doing Bolas' bidding all along. I wanted it foolproof, and I have thus made fools of us all."

There seemed to be a deep melancholy in the deceased dragon's words, and unable to read his mind, Jace could not tell if this was sincere or one of many fronts the dracogenius continually kept up. Niv falling into a trap laid by Bolas… something doesn't feel right. I guess this is the difference between the minds of men and dragons.

Ral, however, seemed convinced in Niv's sincerity, as evidenced by his eyes practically brimming with sympathy. "It's not your fault alone, Niv. I helped you build the thing. I'm not as smart as you, but I should've seen this coming either way. Doesn't matter now. I'll figure out how to shut it down, even if I need to push it out of the tower."

"That wouldn't work," Niv quickly replied, "the force would be insufficient to cracking the hull or disrupting the phase sequence."

Ral sighed, shoulders slumping in annoyance. "Yeah, I know that, I was just… whatever."

"Um, yeah, hello? Over here." All eyes turned back to the middle of the crowd, searching for the source of the interruption. They found a goblin with a scraggly beard, sitting idly in the chassis of a mechanized spider. "Now I don't know too much about the tech at work here, but there's somethin' 'bout all this that just ain't addin' up to me."

Jace expected Ral to take this comment, which he thought suggested some amount of failing on the Izzet's part, rather poorly. Instead, he saw a wry smile appear on Ral's face. "By all means, speak freely. If there's something Niv might have overlooked, I'd love to hear it."

The goblin ran his curling fingernails through his beard in contemplation. "Well, you say you gotta shut down this Beacon thing so that guy don't get pulled back here after goin' through the portal. That part I get. But you also said that the portal's bein' controlled by another 'walker, who's been operatin' all day on another plane. So, my question is, why ain't the Beacon workin' on him?"

As if a spell had been cast, the ruminating energy in the room was suddenly sucked away and ejected to the aether, leaving behind nothing but stunned silence. Jace's mouth fell open for a moment, the rest of his mind too occupied with other thoughts to remember to hold his jaw up. Simmering confusion started to fill the void, both in the room and in Jace's head. He's right. How did I not think about that before? It's an obvious question from what we've been dealing with, so why did I need someone else to show me?

He could feel the miasmic tentacles slink from the shadows, poising to envelop and enshroud his thoughts. He was fortunate, then, when Niv-Mizzet's voice blew across the room like a hurricane, fanning away anything besides his own imposing words.

"You have raised a fine point, little one. It is always nice to see the mind of an Izzet being fostered elsewhere. You are correct, the artificer Tezzeret, who controls the Planar Bridge, is stationed on Amonkhet and appears immune to the effects of the Beacon. I regret to say that this was no oversight, but an intentional piece of the Beacon's design.

"During my research into this project, it became obvious that I could not simply summon any and all planeswalkers to Ravnica, otherwise our universe would collapse under the sudden influx of weight and magic. As such, I designed the Beacon to, firstly, draw planeswalkers at differentiated time intervals, and secondly, to only affect a certain subset of planeswalkers. To do so, I conducted heavy research on arcane resonance patterns from planeswalker sparks, which led me to a group of magical frequencies that I could exploit. So, the Beacon finds such frequencies and brings them here, but not all sparks emit along this spectrum. I suspect Tezzeret's spark fits into this category. Whether this is a coincidence, or my research was guided by Bolas from the start, I cannot properly say. Just know that I only ever had Ravnica's best interests in mind."

Once Niv's ethereal voice faded, a solemn silence fell readily into the gap it left behind. While the assemblage took note of the dragon spirit's explanation, nodding their heads in acceptance of its logic, Jace could only focus on a vague inkling in the back of his mind. He could not readily explain it, but something about Niv's explanation rang hollow. Without any tangible evidence to the contrary, however, he knew this was not the time to confront him. Instead, he clapped his gloved hands together, the stifled sound still managing to wrangle the crowd's attention.

"Thank you, Niv, for the explanation. That also confirms that any of us who leave Ravnica will still be dragged back until the Beacon goes down. You got that, Ral?"

"Clear as a prismite," he responded without a hint of affectation.

"Like Gideon, you can assemble your team once we break, unless you already have anyone in mind?" Ral shrugged, flashing Jace a look to convey just how unimportant he found the mind-mage's question. Jace pointedly chose to ignore it. "Okay then. So, next comes our consular ventures to the Rakdos and the Gruul. Now, I think it would make sense for any of the guild leaders to head up these missions, as you have the most experience working with them, positive or not."

Jace expected some hesitation here, as the reputations of both guilds were strained at best, especially when it came to diplomacy. So, it came as a surprise when Kaya immediately stepped forward and declared, "I can handle the Rakdos."

"Are you sure about that?" Jace asked tentatively. "You haven't been here too long, but dealing with the Rakdos isn't at all like dealing with the Orzhov. They're not exactly in the business of cutting deals or signing contracts."

It was not that Jace did not want or trust Kaya to undertake this mission, he simply feared the fledging guild leader's decisions were not based in adequate knowledge. As such, he was taken aback when she shot him a look of severe determination. "Yeah, I figured as much from the few times I've had to share a room with them. They're brutal, and unreasonable, and only entertaining to themselves, but I know a thing or two about negotiating with people who are only interested in violence." She paused, as if her next sentence refused to leave her throat. "Also, if the Rakdos are withholding aide due to what happened to Hekara, it should be me who goes. I was the last one to see her alive, and I think I may know how to make things right."

"If that's the case, then allow me to accompany you," Lavinia called out from the crowd, raising her hand straight to the sky. "Though Bolas controlled my hand, it was still on my blade that Hekara met her end. I carry no fondness for the Rakdos, but for her sake, I owe them my presence and my perspective."

Kaya put her hands in the pockets of her oversized coat and flashed Lavinia a sardonic smile. "Well, that saves me the trouble of asking you, then. Glad to have you aboard." Lavinia did not match her smile, but when Jace saw the regimented nod and salute she offered, he could sense a forged camaraderie between the two women. Whatever work they had done before, he surmised, must have been quite the ordeal.

"Ok, well, certainly can't argue with that," he said as Kaya retreated to the stage's wing, away from the spotlight. "So, Kaya and Lavinia shall lead a party to the Rakdos. As for the Gruul…"

"I do not mind taking charge of such a mission," answered Ajani, who had been standing like a sentinel beside Karn for the duration of the meeting. "After speaking to Vannifar, I think I can reason with whoever is in charge of the Gruul now that Domri is gone."

Jace bowed his head in agreement. "That all sounds good to me. Though I will say, since there may be some contention from the Gruul given their… we'll say complicated relationship with Bolas, you should probably take a guild member with you. You know there's no one in the Gatewatch I'd trust more on a diplomatic mission than you, but they may be resistant to take the word of another outsider."

Ajani crossed his hulking forearms over his chest and nodded sagely. "A sound strategy as always, Jace. You can count of me." He struck his chest with a curled paw, an almost ceremonial gesture to seal his promise. Jace did not always care for Ajani's more tribalistic tendencies, but now, he found his chest filling with warmth for his friend.

"I always could. So, that's almost all the tasks assigned. If we complete each one, we can repair the leylines and denote Niv as the new Living Guildpact. So, there's now only the matter of the Immortal Sun."

Jace hesitated after this. He had saved this one for last on purpose, as it held the most gaps in their collective knowledge. His mind flashed briefly back to Ixalan, all the turmoil and dismay that accompanied his last search for the Sun. But, as soon as thoughts of Ixalan led naturally to thoughts of Vraska, and thoughts of the two of them when they were last together, he swiftly wiped them away. Once his mind was relatively cleared, he hazarded a look at Vraska, worried that she somehow knew what he had just been thinking. She was looking elsewhere, oblivious to Jace outside of his position as the speaker. With lips pursed, he forced a frustrated breath through his nostrils.

"Now, while the Sun's removal is not crucial to the safety of Ravnica, I know how it can feel to be ripped away from your home and left unable to return. Unlike Bolas, I have no intention of keeping any of you here against your will. Once the Sun is brought down, I will only ask that those of you who can still fight remain here on Ravnica to help us defeat Bolas once and for all. Just know, if Bolas is not stopped here today, his thirst for destruction will not stop at Ravnica. Any and all planes in the Multiverse are at risk as long as that lizard draws breath. I certainly cannot begrudge you for prioritizing your safety or your responsibilities elsewhere, but we will need all the assistance we can get once the endgame commences."

Jace felt his breath catch in his throat, bated by the tangible tension as he surveyed the crowd. More than anything else said today, this garnered the room's full, uninterrupted attention. The myriad faces displayed a full range of possible reactions, from acceptance to resolve to relief to indifference. With the smothering blanket of murmurs removed, Jace found himself unable to get a read on the room. He wanted to believe that most of them would stay, would see the noble intentions of their plight and help fight against its planar spread. He also knew, however pessimistic it may be, that the life of a planeswalker often left one with an attitude of detachment. After all, why risk your own life for a cause where you have no stake and are given no threat?

This cynicism took root within the wrinkles of Jace's mind, and though he could not extract it, he did his best to ignore it for now. He pressed on, knowing that the largest issue surrounding The Immortal Sun had yet to be broached. "Unfortunately, with all that being said, proceeding with the Sun's removal at the moment is not entirely possible, as we have yet to uncover even its general position."

The respectful silence from a moment ago dissolved as the gathered began to chatter, their tones full of disapproval and frustration. While most kept their emotions hushed, Jace could clearly identify several members who bore their anger freely, their voices and expressions far louder than their compatriots.

"Then what is to be done about this?" growled Nixilis, his snarling timbre easily cutting through the throng's grumblings. "I refuse to be shackled to this urban hellscape for any longer. If you have not found the Sun, then what is next?"

Jace paused, trying to choose his next words carefully in the face of the glowering demon. "Well, our next steps would be trying our best to narrow down its location. It's a large artifact whose influence covers the whole plane, it cannot stay hidden forever."

"Unless the area where it's being kept has been magically damped or altered," added Daretti.

Ral quickly countered, "But that would leave a huge, noticeable space in Ravnica's magic flow. We'd find it immediately."

"Surely it's in that massive black structure where Bolas has been hiding," said Huatli with a bold wave of her hand.

Lazav shook his head. "If it is in there, my agents haven't found it. Thus, it is not in there."

"Perhaps a survey is in order," Kasmina offered, piping up from an unseen position in the crowd. "We can trace where everyone has been, see if the pull has felt stronger in some areas than others, and triangulate its position from there."

Jace watched and listened as members of the crowd freely spoke, sometimes over one another, his own mind working to sift through the ideas and information for anything possibly relevant. This was the most fired up he had seen the group so far, but he was hardly surprised. The Immortal Sun, more than anything else, represented an ultimate threat to the planeswalkers, something that restricted their very essence, returning them to the common mages and artificers and warriors that they used to be. Of course they would do whatever they could to scrub it from existence.

It was thus even more surprising, while voices flew from one wall to the other, packed with desperation and vehemence, when Jace once again saw a white hand raise out of the crowd, emerging like a shark's fin from a storm-wracked sea, tall and straight and full of intent. It remained that way for almost a minute while the discussion continued around it, until Jace, who had immediately seen it in his periphery, could settle the room down.

"Yes, Tamiyo. Any insight on how we might track down the Sun?"

The moon sage gingerly lowered her hand. "Actually, I believe I may know where exactly The Immortal Sun is being held."

"Really?" Jace asked, his voice an indelicate mixture of surprise and excitement. He had not expected anyone to know the Sun's location, let alone someone like Tamiyo. While she was both a personal friend and a trusted ally of the Gatewatch, Jace knew well of her hesitance to interfere with ongoing events. He had assumed it was entirely unlikely for one to simply stumble onto its location. "Well, that's great to hear. Where is it?"

The room's attention was on Tamiyo, but before she gave an answer, her head dipped low and back. From where Jace stood, it almost looked like she was holding her ear up to her satchel. After a moment, Tamiyo turned back to Jace with conviction on her face. "I believe the Sun is being held in a tower located in the far corner of the New Prahv district of the city. It appears to be a central hub for the distribution of the Azorius' thopter-based surveillance system."

Jace's lips pursed, and beneath his low-hanging jet bangs, his brow furrowed. "Interesting. I know the area you're talking about somewhat. I'm surprised Bolas would put it somewhere so open. How did you end up finding it?"

"Oh, well, I cannot rightfully take any credit here." An embarrassed shade of pink fell across her pale cheeks. "It was my new friend Fblthp that uncovered this."

"Fblthp?" Jace cocked his head as his tongue twisted around the indelicate name.

"Yes, he's a homunculus, a local to the Azorius sector. We've been travelling together as I have been trying to get him home. You'll forgive his shyness, but he hates crowds." She gestured to her bag, and now that Jace's vision was focused, he could see the definite bulging of a living creature squirming within.

"And this Fblthp, he managed to locate the Sun?"

Tamiyo leaned into her bag, hurriedly whispered something, then reemerged several moments later with a shrug. "It appears he found it by accident. He seems to have a habit of wandering around and ending up where he shouldn't. According to him, after deciding to take a walk, he inadvertently found himself within the tower, in an aerie near its roof. That's where he saw the Sun. He also says that it is being guarded by an army of thopters, all being controlled by a man he describes as 'scary' and 'blue.' Luckily, he found his way out before the man noticed."

"Baan," muttered Jace to himself. A hand flew to his chin as he parsed Tamiyo's story, slotting this information into their established plan. "It would make sense for Baan to guard the Sun. He has eyes everywhere and all the defensive resources of the Azorius at his fingertips. Mounting any kind of mission to find him will not be easy, and even if we were to find…"

"I'll do it."

The words, cold and hard as permafrost, cut Jace's comment to the quick. His eyes went wide with shock as his voice evaporated in the unexpected presence of this familiar other. He, along with the denizens of the stage and the awaiting crowd below, turned to Chandra, who had raised her head for the first time in this meeting to look him dead in the eye. Even Nissa, whose face rarely changed from its natural stoicism, showed clear signs of surprise as she pulled her hand away.

"Chandra," Jace said reproachfully, "While I can appreciate the sentiment, I don't think you really understand the scope of…"

She cut him off. "I don't care. You said Baan was protecting the Sun, right?"

"Uh, yes."

"Then I'll do it. I still haven't paid that bastard back for what he did to Kaladesh. He deserves everything that's coming to him and more, and I'm the one who should do it."

For a second, Chandra's smoldering eyes left Jace, flitting over to Gideon with clear contempt. They returned almost instantly, but Jace still found himself unnerved. She and Gideon often butted heads, but he had never seen her look at him that way, with no respect or friendship behind what Jace could only describe as disdain. It was not helped that her usual fiery exuberance felt repressed, boiling just beneath the surface rather than pouring over in loud, uninterrupted displays. This was not the Chandra that Jace knew, and he could not help but feel a pang of understanding guilt for the redheaded stranger at his side.

"Are you absolutely sure?" he asked, hardening his voice in a show of seriousness. "New Prahv is one of, if not the most secure sections of the city. There's bound to be Eternals all over, and Baan will almost certainly see you coming. This mission may be the most dangerous of them all."

Chandra stared at him, eyes and words unwavering. "Yeah, I'm sure."

After what she has been through, he expected no less. "Well, okay then. Chandra, you'll lead the expedition into New Prahv."

"If that is the case," interjected Nissa, folding her hands delicately on her lap, "then I will accompany Chandra on this mission. I believe my abilities would be well suited to this task."

Another sympathetic bolt struck through Jace's chest, launched full force from the dewy emerald of Nissa's pleading eyes. He sucked a sharp breath through his teeth and ruefully shook his head. "Sorry Nissa, but you need to stay here. You're the only one capable of rebuilding the leylines once the Bridge closes. The best way you can help is remaining here and preparing your spells."

Chandra turned her head just enough to see her. "Yeah, you should stay here where it's safe."

Nissa's face stiffened, her eyes returning to the state of blank reflective pools. "You are both right. It is not worth the risk." Despite her efforts to conceal it, Jace could see how her fingers dug into the fabric of her cowl.

Trying to brush away the impinging melancholy, Jace turned his attention back to Chandra. "I can see that you're dead set on this task, and I won't stop you fully, but I cannot condone sending you out there half-cocked. Even if you can get to Baan and kill him…"

"I can, and I will," she responded deadpan.

"Sure, but after that, what can we do? It isn't enough to remove Baan if we cannot shut down the Sun. Its magic is too powerful for you to just melt it down, and even after all my time on Ixalan, I have yet to find any way to deactivate it. Any sphinx worth his wings wouldn't make such an artifact without a kill switch, but until we find that, you need to remain here as well."

Jace saw a spark race across Chandra's eyes, a spritely ember that illuminated the deep-seated rage pressing against the front of her skull. She opened her mouth, jaw rigidly set. Jace readied himself to face her wrath, but her tirade was preempted by a voice calling out from the crowd.

"Actually, I think I may be able to help with the Sun."

Jace startled. He had not realized that the crowd could hear them. Spinning on his tentatively straightened spine, he followed the disembodied voice back to a man with sweeping brown hair, a roguish goatee, and an intricate pair of gloves that he only noticed because one was borne aloft. Even more startling than the man was his position in the crowd, as he stood just before Nixilis and beside the shadow-headed figure who had spoken earlier, the latter of which now seemed to look at the man with as much an expression of antipathy as a featureless void could muster.

"Is that so? What exactly are you proposing?"

The man lowered his hand, and Jace noticed a faint reluctance behind his composure. "Well, I think I may be able to shut it down, if I can get my hands on it."

Jace perked up. "Really? If that's the case, then that's exactly what we need. So, do you have information about the Sun's construction? Perhaps a weak point you can exploit?"

"Well, not really."

"Oh. Have you encountered the Sun before, then?"

"Um, not until today, no."

Jace's shoulders fell, his bangs involuntarily falling before his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mister…"

"Dack. Dack Fayden, of Fiora." He paused, then offered a grin that was equal parts sheepish and braggadocios. "The Greatest Thief in the Multiverse. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

Jace did not bother to pause. "Can't say that I have."

"Oh, well, guess laying low's been working out for me, then."

"Sorry, Dack, but you said you could possibly remove the Sun for us. You may not know, but it is a massive, ancient piece of magical artifice. You can't simply nick it from under Baan's nose and toss it in a river." Jace had not meant to sound quite so snippy, but as the discussions had worn on, he realized, so had his patience.

Luckily, Dack seemed to readily brush it off, as if he were accustomed to people belittling his craft. "Wasn't my intention, though I'm sure it'd fetch quite a pretty penny down in the Undercity. No, I also specialize in psychometric magics. If a physical object is hosting a spell, big or small, I can pluck it right out. If the Immortal Sun is like you say, then my abilities should work on it as well as any other signet."

Despite Dack's flippant tone, Jace sensed something solid just beneath the malleable surface. He could not quite identify it, as it was clear this self-proclaimed Greatest Thief in the Multiverse was, at the very least, adept at disguising his own intentions, but Jace realized it hardly mattered. Dack, much like Chandra and Gideon and so many others who had spoken up today, held some conviction, however misguided, in the plan he laid out. So, as had become a recurring theme over the course of this meeting, Jace found himself unable to argue in the face of the help being offered.

"Since time is of the essence, I suppose we'll have to take that risk. Very well, Dack, Chandra will get you as close to the Sun as you need. Its location is too far away to postpone Gideon's need to go through the Bridge, but bringing it down will loosen Bolas' grip on the city, and that is enough."

Dack accepted these terms with a significant nod, and the sounds of Chandra shifting in her chair informed Jace of her agreement. In the pause that followed, Jace's mind went searching for the next part of the plan that required rethinking. When he reached out, however, he found his grasp empty. It took a second for him to realize, but he soon saw that the puzzle, at least the portion whose jagged pieces were available, had been completed. He had expected fragments to not fit, for people to argue over their positioning, and certainly for some to be missing entirely, but as he looked over the assembled ideas of the day, he could not help but marvel at what they had managed to accomplish. And though he had not cut the pieces himself, Jace saw the work his own hands had wrought.

A strange warmth started to expand within his chest, and though he felt it encroach upon his pale cheeks, his composure refused to crack. He raised his hands to gather the group's attention. "Well, with that, we've secured all the positions we need. If all these smaller tasks can be accomplished, then we may yet stand a chance against Bolas. So, with that, it's about time we step down from the stage and start dividing ourselves as needed. If any of you, like Dack, want to volunteer for any of these missions, flag down the leader as soon as you can. Otherwise, we'll be around to survey you all and see which configuration gives us the greatest chance for success."

"What about you, Jace?" Ral suddenly asked. "Where will you be headed once the meeting ends?"

Though he appreciated neither the implication nor the tone, Jace found himself unaffected by the question, as he already had an answer. "I'll be staying back here to oversee the preparation for the Guildpact ritual. I'll still be in psychic contact with some of you during your missions, though I will keep it to a minimum to lessen the chances of Bolas intercepting any of our information."

"Actually, Jace, I believe your talents would be better served elsewhere."

The mind-mage paused and turned around to the bust of Niv-Mizzet that had just spoken. Confusion, and an amount of panic to which Jace would never admit, nearly left him unable to speak, but the words somehow managed to push their way free. "With all due respect, Niv, I think my duties lie here. As the former Living Guildpact, I know all the ins and outs of the rites-"

"As do I," the deceased dragon refuted. "In the time before our initial guild summit, I familiarized myself with all the necessary rituals for the Guildpact proceedings. As I cannot be of service out in the field, it is obvious that I instruct the young elf while you assist in the plan."

Jace opened his mouth to counter, but he could find no fault with Niv's argument. Silently, he had hoped to stay behind and be alone with his thoughts. All day, he felt as if he was being punished for wanting to think things through, to let his mind sit and strategize rather than act on impulse, something that left him truly unnerved. Now, it seemed that mental reprieve was slipping from his grasp.

"That is not what we discussed earlier. You and I were going to work on the Guildpact ritual and finalize the plan. What should I be doing now?"

Niv exhaled, a pointless gesture for a breathless spirit that still seemed constrained by mortal habits. "I believe you would be best served with assisting in the assassination of Liliana Vess."

Jace's pulse skipped a beat. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You are uniquely qualified to ensure this unforeseen piece of the plan proceeds properly. You know Liliana better than anyone else, how her powers work and how she thinks…"

Internally, Jace scoffed. Shows what you know. If I had any idea what actually went on in her head, we probably wouldn't be standing here.

"… This team will also require far more stealth protocols than any other, as they are infringing upon Bolas' sphere. Your illusions have managed to go unobserved, so you alone can get them into the proper positions without raising suspicions."

"I…guess that's all true." Jace could feel a fresh crop of sweat beads sprouting across his nape.

Niv's voice shifted to the side of the stage. "Vraska, as the leader of this venture, is this amenable?"

The gorgon's eyes darted between Niv and Jace before settling down with a shrug of her shoulders. "Fine by me. Whatever will stop Bolas."

"Then we are in agreement."

The lights in the bust's eyes dimmed as Bolas' spirit retreated, presumably, to the back of the urn, leaving Jace dumbstruck in the center of the stage. The warmth in his chest was now thoroughly quenched, leaving behind a dank, relatively familiar dread. He looked back to Vraska, trying to catch her eyes once more, but she had already looked away.

His mind was adrift, lost in the ambient buzzing of the Golgari guildhall and adamant in its refutation of solid footing. After some amount of time that Jace could not count, but enough to feel the innumerable stares on his face, he blinked himself back into the present, surreptitiously shook his head, and readdressed the awaiting planeswalkers.

"Right, yes, at this point I believe the general meeting should adjourn. The task leaders will begin gathering their teams, and we'll head out as soon as we possibly can. Once again, thank you all for even showing up to this. Know that we will bear no judgment on those who would prefer to seek shelter here rather than fight, but if you are willing and able, please consider doing all that you can, so that Bolas can be stopped here and now. Thank you."

With a curt bow, Jace dismissed the assembly. The room instantly filled with a haze of chatter as the members of the crowd turned to their neighbors to dissect the barrage of words that had been flung their way. On the stage, Jace's comrades began shuffling to the stairs, ready to find their new teammates. Jace remained where he was, entranced by the now lively throng at his feet. He did feel Gideon's hand briefly come to rest on his shoulder, but when he made no move to acknowledge it, it retreated.

Jace most likely could have stayed fixed in place for some time, allowing the sounds of mobilization to wash over him and occupy the unsettled spaces in his brain. Instead, these patches of emptiness were filled by a telepathic, musing voice.

You have doubts, Niv-Mizzet stated bluntly.

Jace's shoulders tightened. I didn't think you could communicate mentally anymore, with your newfound lack of a brain and all.

I am still getting used to this ethereal form, but the principles appear to be the same. Magic is just as manipulable to those without flesh, and my mind is not so easily extinguished.

I suppose not. Jace sighed, turning Niv's words over. Yeah, I do have doubts, and if you're still the genius you were when you weren't dead, you would have them too. It's a fine enough plan, but Bolas won't make it easy on us.

Niv nodded, a gesture which Jace could somehow sense. I have anticipated as much. You are right, these plans are not as perfect as I would prefer. These next moves are crucial, but I do believe we can outmaneuver Bolas here.

Well, I'm glad you're confident, considering Bolas tricked you into building his machine and then killed you.

To Jace's surprise, Niv let out a smug puff of air. You underestimate me if you believe that I would be so easily deceived.

Jace paused, searching for the right words in the face of this odd declaration. Wait… but…just before, you said that…

I said that I did not know what would happen with the Beacon. That was a lie. The only unforeseen piece was The Immortal Sun, but had I known of its existence, I would have surely planned around it. The Interplanar Beacon is still a device of my own creation.

Hold on, what are you talking about?

While researching the technology to construct the Beacon, I needed to find ways of reaching across the gaps between worlds. What do you call it, "The Blind Eternities?" When I did inevitably uncover the means to do so, I began searching for potential ways to fight against Bolas. I looked across the multiverse, hoping to find something that could assist us.

And? Jace readily asked. Did you find something?

No, but my inquiries attracted the attention of someone. Someone who reached out to me, who I have been working with in secret to undermine everything that Bolas has planned. Someone, Jace, that I believe you know.

Jace's brow wrinkled. Who exactly did you find?