Chapter Five: The Rubicon

[Play Miracle, by Hazy]

The night was long. The firefighters brigade had taken over the streets of Piltover, rushing to put out the fire the fastest they could. One hour of ashes and terror that had awakened the entire city; its citizens gathered around the main square and in the balconies with their hearts on their sleeves.

Jayce was standing by the building. Mel had just finished giving her witness report to the enforcer's Captain, the second in charge below Marcus. With all that had happened in such a short amount of time, Piltover didn't even have time to replace their Sheriff position. The Captain left, ready to pass down her orders. She took a moment to look around. It all just felt so chaotic and out of place that it even started to feel unreal, like a terrible dream Councilor Medarda hoped to wake up from sooner than later.

The sound of a gurney coming down the pavement into the road brought her attention to it. A knot on her stomach made her gasp. First, one gurney. Then, a second one. The paramedics were transporting the two gurneys with white bags containing the bodies of Councilor Horkel and Councilor Salo. Despite the strong wave of emotion, she closed her eyes and telepathically wished them one last heartfelt goodbye.

– OK, thank you.

Jayce's voice made her snap out of it. She turned around and saw him standing in front of a closing door from another ambulance. The sirens went off, and it quickly sped up, leaving the scene. Jayce felt her gaze, thus meeting her eyes seconds later. He initiated the approach at the same time as her.

– Will she be alright? –Mel asked with concern.

– The paramedics said there is a high chance she will survive –his eyes became sad–. But the damage on her legs seemed significant. I don't know if she'll be able to walk again, or if she is going to suffer from any other consequences –Jayce brought up his hand to his forehead, which was covered in black due to the ashes–. I just can't believe this…

Mel stroked his cheek.

– She was your patron for many years, someone who looked out for you. It's normal you feel this way.

Jayce looked up, now showing more his rage.

– No, I mean this whole situation –he looked at the site, which was finally out of fire but completely destroyed– This has gone too far.

– I agree.

Amongst the hectic rush of firefighters and enforcers moving left and right, a familiar face was able to find Jayce.

– Viktor! –Wonder Boy greeted him– Were you hurt?

– I'm OK –he reassured Jayce with a nod, although he quickly fixed his gaze on Mel– Councilor Medarda, thank you. If it wasn't for you, we all would not be here right now.

Mel accepted his gratitude gracefully. However, she didn't seem happy about having to have used her magical power. Jayce recalled the moment of the impact and the golden shield emanating from her.

– Without intrusion –Viktor continued–, how did you do it?

Mel sighed.

– It's a long story. These tattoos are a spell of protection.

– A spell? –Jayce had heard the magic word.

– It was given to me the day I was expelled from Noxus. A goodbye gift by my merciful mother –she rolled her eyes with sarcasm.

– So, all of this time… –Jayce was connecting the dots on his mind– Was this the reason why you decided to support our investigation?

– Ugh, can we not do this right now?

– I'm just saying! Why have you never mentioned you know magic?

Viktor realized this conversation was going off topic, and had no interest in being the third wheel of an argument.

– Can we refocus here? –he asked.

Jayce looked at Mel, who was deliberately looking away while holding her arms, then back at Viktor. He frowned, but in the end he seconded his partner's call out and he let it go. For now.

– What the hell happened, anyway? –Viktor continued– Was that a missile?

Mel frowned with her chin up. It was hard for her to say what she was going to say, but as the leader of Piltover, she had no choice but to act accordingly to the circumstances.

– This was deliberate and ruthless. An act of war we can't overlook –Mel sighed, then paused–. I am afraid we have no choice but to seize the Undercity. Things are getting out of control, and I cannot put the lives of civilians at risk.

– There are civilians in the Undercity as well! –Viktor yipped.

– Viktor, open up your eyes –Jayce put his hands on his shoulders–. They just striked against the Council! We need to put an end to all of this. Now.

Jayce let go of Viktor and looked back at Mel, and before his perplexed partner could say anything, he added:

– We will go back to the lab and start a Hextech-powered armory production –Jayce stated with initiative–. We already have some prototypes built.

Viktor frowned, outraged.

– I am not going to participate in making Hextech weaponry, Jayce. We built Hextech so that we could save people, not seize them!

– They're the ones who built a weapon with our technology to begin with –Jayce couldn't help but to raise his voice–. We've lost two Councilors today, perhaps even three. If we don't stop them now, it is only a matter of time they strike again! Who else are you going to let die, huh? Tell me!

Viktor lifted his index ready to retaliate.

– Gentlemen –Mel interrupted the heated discussion at once–, let's remind ourselves that our goal is not to kill innocent people, but to find and arrest the responsibles for these attacks.

– Vi said her name is Jinx –Jayce remembered Vi's quote on who made the explosives–. We must find her before she uses the weapon again.

– Do we know what she looks like? –Mel asked.

The three of them looked at each other.

– No, but Caitlyn does –Jayce said, recalling the few days she had spent in the Undercity.

– OK, then why don't you go find Miss Kiramman? –Mel suggested– Her description will prevent us from going in blind.

Mel's intention of bringing this up was to soothe Viktor into his worry, which she completely understood. And it worked, for Viktor seemed more relaxed after hearing that comment. Mel had a golden heart, and the last thing she ever wanted was to hit such a critical point in their relations with the Undercity.

Suddenly, Jayce realized he hadn't seen Caitlyn at the explosion site. He looked around immediately, but no signs of her. And then, just like that, an unexplainable angst began rising from the depths of his being like a bad omen of something terrible about to happen.

– This is odd… –he mumbled.

– What is it? –Viktor asked.

– Last I heard, Caitlyn had come back home –Jayce frowned–. But, knowing her, she should be here. There's no way she wouldn't.

Mel crossed her arms, allowing her intuition to guide her.

– Could she be with that other girl she came to the audience with?

Jayce paused, for he knew it wasn't the case; yet, at the same time, he didn't want to share the last time he saw Vi because he would have to confess his recent vigilante adventure to the Head of the Council and lover. The image of that dead kid popped up in his mind. Jayce closed his eyes as a reflex, then did his best to come back into the present moment.

– I highly doubt it –he said with a queasy sensation in his stomach–. Do you think something has happened to her? Could she be in trouble?

– I don't know, but if she is the only person on our side who knows how Jinx looks like, it's imperative we find her

– I will go to her house and find out. Meanwhile –he turned to his partner– Viktor, I am aware this is hard for you, but you are the most knowledgeable scientist I know and the only person I can trust with Hextech –Viktor raised an eyebrow, already foreseeing his request–. I need you to get ahead and go to the lab to get the weaponry ready. You know where the blueprints are.

– Jayce…

But then, Mel took a step forward.

– This weaponry will be for defense and defense only –she stated with a severe yet soft tone–. I will make sure no one uses these weapons against people. You have my word.

Viktor didn't seem convinced, but he agreed and got on moving. Amazed, Jayce watched Mel perform her word magic once again. Her charisma was unequal. He smiled, also feeling more relaxed after that heated discussion with his brother-like partner.

– I will coordinate with the Captain to finish cleaning over here –Mel continued, her attention catching on some very concerned civilians– and find a way to calm down the people.

Jayce was caught by surprise.

– So are you staying?

– For now. I will also check on the other councilors.

Jayce nodded, and right before he took off, he couldn't help but to take Mel in his arms and kiss her. Even though Viktor had already taken some distance, he did see the scene through the corner of his eye. He was not an envious person, but he could tell that their paths were getting further and further away from one another. Viktor was aware of all the things he was never going to have, one of them being a romantic partner. No, he had no more time for things that didn't matter anymore.

"Only one thing matters" he thought to himself. And he sped up the fastest his chronic limp allowed him to, on his way to the laboratory.

At the lab, Viktor was quick to enter. He walked past the Hexcore, which now was a mass of organic tissue and ancient runes moving synchronistically, and reached the backend area where the mining gloves had been exposed to Heimerdinger, standing right beside the laser ray claw. He noticed the gauntlets were missing, but he didn't dwell much on it. He had one goal in mind and one goal only: to help. And if he had to stop being Viktor and become something else in order to gather the strength to be of service to both his city of origin and the city that took him in, he was going to give it all to make it happen.

He took out the notes, a pen and a few pieces of paper. He sat down on a stool and started drawing. He had an idea of what he had to become in order to prevent Piltover from destroying The Lanes, but he had no idea of what the mutation could transform him into. He took a deep breath in. He had the technology as well as enough experience to be successful in his quest; nevertheless, as any scientist knows, there is never a guarantee on the outcome.

But these intrusive thoughts didn't make Viktor shake. Not at that point. He was way past the Rubicon, and unwilling to step back. His decision was made, and so, he moved forward with his idea at full speed. There was no time to lose.

Panting, Jayce had reached the Kiramman's house. He knocked on the fence with a fluster, then realized the fence was unlocked. He opened at once and rushed up the stairs towards the front door. A butler opened up.

– Mister Talis, welc…

– Is Caitlyn home? –Jayce interrupted.

The butler didn't have an answer to his question. But then, Caitlyn's father appeared down the corridor behind the butler.

– Jayce!

Wonder Boy didn't think twice and entered the house. Confused, the butler moved aside in order not to be knocked down.

– Mister Kiramman, where is your daughter?

– I hoped she would be with you –Mr. Kiramman replied with disappointment, then it quickly shifted to worry–. I was just about to make my way towards the Council. Boy, am I glad you're OK!

Suddenly, Jayce realized he had no idea of what had happened to his wife.

– It's been thanks to Councilor Medarda that most of us made it out alive.

– Most of us? –his eyes almost left his sockets.

– Yeah –Jayce lowered his gaze–. Councilor Horkel and Councilor Salo didn't make it.

– Oh…

– And, Mr Kiramman, your wife…

A knot in the stomach of Caitlyn's father barely let him breathe. Jayce explained she was alive but that she had severe injuries. After getting clear on the fact that Caitlyn wasn't at home, he suggested going with him to meet Mrs. Kiramman at the hospital. However, Mr. Kiramman begged him to find Caitlyn instead.

– She wouldn't disappear again just like that. I know my daughter. I have the feeling something must've gone wrong –he said with his heart on his sleeve.

Jayce frowned, for he felt the same exact way.

– Yeah, I agree.

– My only fear is that, if she actually got the evidence she so insistently looked for, she might have turned into the target!

And just like that, a bell rang inside Jayce's head.

– Could it be that… she has been abducted? –he thought out loud.

Both men shared a look of deep concern. Jayce decided to prioritize Caitlyn's search, and so, he sent off Mr. Kiramman to the hospital alone and made his way to his house to pick up the Hextech hammer. There was only one place left to look, and that was the Undercity itself.

He knew that Mel, together with Councilor Bolbok and Councilor Shoola, would take care of coordinating the next steps to keep the city safe, as well as starting the counterattack. But Caitlyn was family, and also the only hope for the Undercity to not be torn down. Without her description of Jinx, it was set that the enforcers would ruthlessly search for the gem under every rug if needed, considering every person who opposed the search a deathly threat. And the consequences of this would be catastrophic for the citizens of the Undercity.

At the same time, Jayce was aware that looking for Caitlyn would be a hard task without any knowledge of the city. Soon he realized that going at it alone could take days, perhaps even more, and he did not have the time nor the resources for that. Despite feeling reluctant about it, he quickly realized that the person he had to look for wasn't Caitlyn… It was Vi.

To be continued…

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a comment on how this story is making you feel so far, what you liked and why, or any constructive feedback that can help me improve my writing skills, character development, etc.

Much love, and until the next episode!