'Looks like Powder was quite right about how these so-called Enforcers like to escalate things. I just wish she told me they were quite trigger-happy as well.'
This was the first impression Angela got of the Piltovians as she stared down at the Head of the forces pointing their various weapons at her, ready to fire upon her very person at any moment.
Talk about a warm welcome to Runeterra…if she remembered the name of the realm correctly.
"Now listen and listen carefully," Angela raised her thin-blue eyebrow at the man who clearly led this particular response group, though his voice was much less loud now that a proper name and face were in front of him to actually interact with, "You will state your attention here in Piltover or else you will be met with force. We do not seek conflict, although we will not shy from defending our lands in case we are encroached upon!"
Sheesh, such a dramatic flair. It seemed the inhabitants of this land were much more passionate than the average City dweller.
Angela stood with an air of quiet authority, her gaze steady upon the Head Enforcer as he barked his demands. "You'll find no threat here, dear Enforcer. My intentions are peaceful," she calmly responded, her voice carrying a measured tone that seemed to contrast the tense atmosphere. And the best part was that she wasn't even lying; she had no ulterior motives to be here…or any motives at all, if she was being honest. She was forcibly teleported here, after all, and that made coming up with any motives or reasonings for being here a little difficult.
The Head Enforcer, clearly unaccustomed to such a composed demeanor in the face of his authoritative presence, persisted, "We'll need more than words, miss. What's your business in Piltover?"
Before Angela could provide a more detailed answer, a sudden interruption came from the side, stepped forward, his tiny but dignified figure commanding attention. "Hold your breath, Enforcer Marcus. No need to take things further than they need to."
Angela's eyes shifted to the tiny figure, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise. The creature was unlike anything she had encountered before. The unintended surprise found its way into her next words, uttered almost involuntarily, "Now this is quite new," She began, her voice attracting the short creature in question, unsure where her sentence was going. "What fascinating creature are you?"
"...Excuse me?"
As the quartet of Roland, Gebura, Tiphereth, and Powder - now cleaned up from their previous battles - walked through the halls leading to the outside of the looming Library towering over Piltover and Zaun, Roland's sharp ears caught the distant sound of raised voices, faint but growing louder as they approached the base of the Library…In fact, they were coming from where all of those Piltover goons were situated. He only left Angela for five minutes at max, and he knew that Angela wasn't the greatest when it came to social interactions, but surely things hadn't deteriorated so quickly…?
Nah, Angela was a smart one. She wouldn't possibly provoke so many people at once. How would she even do something like that? His worries were probably unfounded. But still…the Fixer found himself wanting a second opinion, and so he asked:
"You guys hear something?" Roland turned back to glance at the Library, a furrow forming between his brows. "I think I hear someone yelling."
Gebura, walking beside him, scratched her scalp, her fiery hair bouncing with the movement. She, too, turned her attention back to the Library. "Well, now that you do mention it…" She waited for a moment before shrugging at her fellow Color Fixer, unsure. "Eh. Angela's gonna handle it if it gets too bad. She was always the more diplomatic one. What do you think, Tiph?" She turned to the possibly second-youngest member of their quartet, though she received no particular response.
Tiphereth, who had been silently observing the scene, chimed in with a nonchalant shrug. "Whatever you say." It seemed she was still sulking about being forced to go through this journey right when she'd finally gotten a chance to rest after the chaos that she had to undergo for a week thanks to the Ensemble's… violent intrusion.
As the group prepared to embark on their journey to Zaun, the general atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and routine; the sudden mission they were on after so much fighting already was dampening their sense of victory, although it wasn't as if they could refuse Powder's request when her ultimate goal was to find a way to get back home at some point. They owed her this much for her help. Roland, Gebura, Tiphereth, and Powder gathered around a central table next to the exit they were planning to use, where EGO and Abnormality Pages were neatly arranged. Each Librarian was tasked with choosing which Pages to bring with them; perhaps they weren't going to be quite as effective outside of the Library, but in life-or-death situations, they were fairly certain they'd be invaluable.
Roland, his focus as sharp as ever despite his usual downbeat demeanor, meticulously examined the Pages, weighing the potential challenges they might face in Zaun. He selected a set of EGO Pages known for their adaptability and strategic insights, ready to face the unpredictable nature of the undercity.
Gebura, with her characteristic fiery energy, opted for Abnormality Pages that exuded strength and resilience. She believed that having a robust defense would be crucial in navigating the unfamiliar territory of Zaun.
Tiphereth, always the eager yet attentive figure, chose a combination of EGO and Abnormality Pages that focused on negotiation and diplomacy. She believed that understanding the social dynamics of Zaun would be key to their success.
While the Librarians made their selections, they took turns instructing their respective Librarian assistants on tasks to be completed during their absence. Gebura's assistant, a meticulous individual named Jasper, listened intently, nodding at each instruction. Tiphereth's assistant, the reserved but efficient Lysander, took notes with a focused expression.
Powder, despite her initial reluctance about returning home, scanned through the Pages with determination. She selected a mix of EGO and Abnormality Pages, leaning toward those that hinted at versatility and adaptability. It was clear that she intended to be prepared for anything Zaun might throw at them.
She turned her attention to Suho, her main assistant, who was diligently preparing for her departure.
"Hey, Suho!" Powder exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and eccentricity. "While I'm away, I need you to keep a close eye on my latest batch of inventions. You know, the one with the colorful explosions and the glittery smoke? I'm hoping to figure out how to control the colors better. Maybe add a bit of sparkle too!"
Suho, a dedicated and patient assistant, nodded with a slight smile. "Of course, Powder. I'll make sure to monitor the experiments and document any changes. But, um, colorful explosions and glittery smoke? Is that safe?" She paused. "Or is it going to be like the last safe invention when I was set on fire?" She narrowed her eyes, tapping her foot on the ground.
Powder shrugged, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Who said science had to be boring? Besides, I'm sure it'll be fine. Just keep a fire extinguisher nearby." Suho's glare got even sharper. "Hey, I never said it would blow up! I'm saying, you know. Just in case." The Zaunite quickly coughed into her fist, moving past the topic as quickly as she could. "Either way, here's what you'll need to look out for…"
As Powder continued to give eccentric instructions about her various ongoing experiments, Suho listened attentively, jotting down notes and nodding in agreement, even if she was a little uncertain about the safety of the experiments she was supposed to monitor. She felt that Abnormality testing, as unsafe as the Corporation had been, was marginally safer than this…
Still, despite the unpredictable nature of Powder's inventions, Suho had learned to adapt and support her in every endeavor. She also learned how to survive their not infrequent catastrophic failures whenever they did fail.
After the more light-hearted instructions, the atmosphere shifted, and Powder's expression grew more serious. She took a deep breath before speaking, "Suho, there's something else I need to talk to you about. It's about me going back to Zaun."
Suho looked up from her notes, concern flickering in her eyes. "Zaun? Powder, are you sure about going so soon? We only arrived maybe a few hours ago at this point. It's been barely even a day, and it's not exactly the safest place out there from what you used to say, and, well, you know the memories..."
Powder nodded, her gaze dropping for a moment. "Yeah, I know. It's not going to be easy, but there's something I need to find out. Something I've been avoiding for a long, long time." And something that she couldn't even confront due to being in the City for the past seven years. Now that she had the opportunity, she couldn't miss it. Not again.
Suho reached out and placed a comforting hand on the solemn Powder's shoulder. "You don't have to face it alone, you know. I wish I could go with you."
A small smile played on Powder's lips as she covered Suho's hand with her own. "I really appreciate ya' for that, Suho. But you've got important things to take care of here. Plus, I don't want to drag you into the mess that is Zaun; it's not exactly the most…welcoming place in the world." Certainly an acquired taste when it came to the people who loved it like Powder. "It's bad enough that I'm dragging these three babysitters with me, and I'm sure they'll keep me safe." As long as they don't have their guts collected and sold on the black market themselves, that is. "I'll be back before you know it."
Suho's eyes betrayed a hint of sadness, but she nodded, understanding Powder's determination. "Just promise me you'll be careful. And come back in one piece."
Powder squeezed Suho's hand reassuringly. "I promise. And hey, I'm leaving you in charge of the glittery explosions. Don't let them have too much fun without me, okay?"
Suho managed a chuckle, the momentary heaviness lifting. "I'll do my best. Take care, Powder. We'll be waiting for your return."
Roland, meanwhile, found himself faced with a unique challenge. His assistant, the rather lazy and nonchalant figure named Bob, seemed more interested in finding a comfortable spot to nap than paying attention to Roland's instructions.
"Bob, seriously? We're going to Zaun, and you're planning to sleep through it all? You're not even going send with off with a 'good luck' or anything in case I die?" Roland couldn't help but shake his head at the nonchalant attitude of his assistant. He wasn't even worried about the dangers that might lurk in Zaun, but seeing the heartfelt goodbye between Suho and Powder was a bit jarring considering his very own assistant never showed that much emotional attachment to anything but sleep. This had to be a divine punishment for all of the sins he committed in the City…or at least part of them…
Bob, unfazed, replied with a yawn. "Well, it's not like anything exciting ever happens around here. You'll beat the bad guys, save the girl, yada yada yada." Come on, the nerve! Roland had to fight tooth and nail for his happy ending, it wasn't handed to him on a silver platter! "Plus, I need my beauty sleep."
Roland sighed, a mix of frustration and resignation in his voice. "You're unbelievable." Besides, beauty sleep?! What sort of 'beauty' was Bob even talking about? He was the plainest man born in the last 200 years, maybe more. "Fine, just do whatever you want. But if anything important comes up, you're taking all the blame."
Bob chuckled, already finding a comfortable chair. "Don't worry, boss. I've got it all under control." Not like Roland often left him with a large backlog of tasks…
As the Librarians finalized their choices and provided instructions, the Library buzzed with a sense of activity. The preparations for the journey were in full swing, and each Librarian, along with their quirky assistants, played their part in ensuring the Library's continued stability in their absence.
The Librarians, having finished assigning the tasks and knowing the general purpose of their journey to Zaun, turned their attention to Powder with curiosity evident in their expressions.
"Powder," Roland inquired, his normally dull black eyes now filled with genuine curiosity, "where do you plan on taking us first? Any particular destination in mind? I'd love a tour of your place in Zaun, it sounds lovely." Ah, there it was, the snarky undertones he had coming into full view now.
Powder, wearing a sly and mischievous grin, leaned in slightly, her eyes glinting with a playful gleam. "Oh, my dear Librarians, I have the perfect starting place in mind. It's a spot that captures the essence of Zaun, where chaos and creativity collide in the most unexpected ways!"
Gebura, ever direct, raised an eyebrow. "No need for suspense, Powder. Where are we heading first?"
Powder's grin widened, and she let out a chuckle that had a touch of cartoonish villainy to it. The room fell into a brief silence as everyone stared at her, trying to decipher the meaning behind that mischievous expression and wondering whether that was good or bad for them.
"Come on, spill it already. It's bad enough we're headed outside so soon, we gotta know where we're going, at least." Tiphereth urged, unable to contain her curiosity, even if it was laced with a hint of annoyance.
Still wearing that enigmatic grin once again, Powder finally revealed, "Let's just say that it's the perfect place to immerse ourselves in Zaun's unique charm. Trust me, you're all in for quite the experience."
As Powder chuckled wickedly again, the Librarians exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what exactly they were forcibly signed up for. Given their history with the Librarian of Psychology, it was either going to be something entirely innocuous that she was hyping up far too much…or they were about to have a real handful very, very soon…
As the Librarians finished selecting their Pages for the journey ahead, Powder took the lead, guiding the group towards the exit of the Library that led directly into Zaun. With each step, anticipation and excitement filled the air, mingled with a hint of apprehension.
Powder's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she approached the threshold of the Library, the gateway to Zaun and, for her, a journey back to her roots after years of involuntary absence. Memories, both painful and cherished, flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia, dread, and uncertainty.
After all this time, she was finally returning home. The very thought of stepping foot in the bustling streets of her childhood brought a surge of conflicting emotions - excitement, fear, longing, and determination.
But amidst the chaos of her thoughts, one thing remained clear: she was ready. Ready to confront her past, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her in her place of birth.
With a deep breath, Powder pushed open the doors of the Library, stepping out into the unknown with a newfound sense of purpose and resolve. The journey ahead would no doubt be filled with all sorts of nasty surprises from the past she spent so long away from, but she was determined to see it through to the end.
As she took the first steps on the path that would lead them to Zaun, Powder couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement ignite within her. For better or worse, her journey was just beginning, and she was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead.
Back up on the Floor of General Works, the remaining Floor Librarians were gathered around a large oak table, discussing the current state of affairs, as the many assistants not taken out of commission from the recent raids on the Library worked tirelessly to make sure things were up and running at full capacity once again.
Hokma, the eldest among them, leaned forward, his wise demeanor reflecting his sense of responsibility as he continued with this impromptu meeting. "Our main priority right now must be to assess the extent of the damage caused by the teleportation and the previous attacks. The wards may need reinforcing, and the energy reserves replenished."
"Yes, Hokma is right," Yesod said, nodding in agreement. "We cannot afford to overlook any vulnerabilities in our defenses, especially in light of recent events. We must find out how much control Angela retains over the Library with the Light being mostly released now."
Hod furrowed her brow thoughtfully. "What about Powder and the others? I felt their presence leaving the Library, meaning they'd just ventured into Zaun. Do we have any means of monitoring their progress in case something happens?"
Netzach yawned before giving his answer. "Unfortunately, being so low on energy means we can't track them as closely as we normally could - unless Angela could do something about it. We can only trust that Powder will still know her way around Zaun."
Before they could deliberate anymore on the matter, Angela's footsteps echoed in the chamber as she returned from her meeting with the Enforcers. The Librarians turned their attention to her, eager to hear the outcome.
"How did it go, Angela~? Make any new friends~?" Chesed inquired, his eyes alight with curiosity.
Angela hesitated briefly before responding, her voice tinged with chagrin. "It... didn't go exactly as planned. I may have inadvertently offended a certain Professor Heimerdinger, the Head of the Council that governs over Piltover and Zaun." At least, that's who they told her he was.
The other Librarians exchanged concerned glances, but Malkuth offered a reassuring nod. "At least no harm was done, and you conducted yourself with dignity, Angela." Ah, that was the reassuring, optimistic outlook Angela had come to expect from Malkuth, although she wasn't sure if being accidentally racist against a new race she saw for the first time was considered dignified…Oh well, she didn't need to tell them about that.
Angela managed a small smile of gratitude before continuing. "Yes, thankfully, no one was injured, and the situation was defused without resorting to violence." Even if a few too many guns had been pointed at her for her liking.
Binah's gaze drifted toward the outside "Your young ward and the group you assigned to her have already departed for Zaun. Do you think they'll find what they're looking for?"
Angela's expression softened with a hint of nostalgia. "I have faith in Powder's resourcefulness. She's faced the same adversity as we have as the Librarians of the Library before and has managed to find a way through it alongside us all. Besides, Zaun is her home. She knows it better than anyone and it is time she settled things with that part of her life."
Having made the final call on the topic of Powder for now, Angela redirected the conversation to their impending meeting with the Council of Piltover.
"In two hours, I'll be meeting with Professor Heimerdinger and the Council members of Piltover," Angela announced, her tone firm and set as the others became more attentive to what she was saying, various expressions of shock and surprise all around the table. "They've expressed interest in discussing the Library's presence in Piltover and how we can collaborate more effectively or prevent any hostile actions from both sides."
Hokma leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "And what role do you envision for us, Angela?"
Angela's gaze swept over her fellow Librarians, a sense of purpose shining in her eyes. "I'll need three volunteers to accompany me to the meeting...I'm not exactly certain of what we can do for the fine folks here, but I at least have hopes we will not devolve into an all-out war with our new neighbors. Perhaps, for now, we can just negotiate on maintaining peace."
As the Librarians considered Angela's proposal, the chamber fell into a thoughtful silence, as her small, inscrutable smile spread across her face.
"So: who among you is willing to accept this invitation with me, my dear Librarians?"