The laser from the hexclaw burned through another layer of debris. Jayce quickly advanced with the Atlas gauntlets and hurled it away. Some fragments landed danger close to some witnesses the enforcers were interviewing.

"Jayce, you must be more careful," Heimerdinger warned as he waited a moment for his former student to clear the spot. Then he unleashed the hexclaw's power again.

"Be more careful," Jayce thought. How many times had the Dean told him that over the years? And if he and Viktor had listened….

He moved in again and tossed the debris in a more focused direction.

It was shortly after that until the Main Councilor exclaimed, "We have something. Right there!" He pointed with the hand not operating the hexclaw.

Jayce dug precisely and was disappointed. "The head of one of the would-be kidnappers. Or so I'm positive the enforcers can identify him as later."

Heimerdinger made a sigh. "I should reduce the power on the hexclaw. It would be horrible if we injured or worse those we're trying to rescue."

That was our overreach. The hexcore may have been something we could not control. Will the hexgem be that too, but for the Undercity? Or Zaun, if that is what they are?

"Agreed."

They continued, finding more pieces of the Zaunite intruders. "'The scenic route', Silco said. If that fork-tongued bastard's delay cost us…" Jayce stewed as he moved aside again.

His goggled mentor turned to him. "Silco was probably trying to be slick with the line. Our path seemed to have changed little and the motor carriages were driven with heavy feet."

Finally, they unearthed the people they both wanted and didn't want to find.

No. No. No. Jayce pictured himself back on the edge of his old apartment after it had been torn apart by a hex crystal. If he had taken my life at that time then Viktor would have his now. He removed the gauntlets and knelt over his best friend's body. He brought his fingers to his eyelids and forced them close.

Rest now, partner. I am sorry. He saw his hand was holding Sky's. I thought she felt something for him. At least they must have comforted each other in the end.

"Medic!" Heimerdinger called, disrupting Jayce's musings. The Man of Progress was confused, then he heard the feeble cough of Sky. The medical personnel arrived soon and with care took Sky away. They also took away Viktor, though everyone knew he was already gone.

"Jayce, we must find the hexcore and make sure it is destroyed. It may do far worse damage like was done in the Rune Wars if it can be salvaged."

Nodding, Jayce put the gauntlets back on. It may be cathartic for me. Viktor and Sky did not deserve this. If only I had stayed. If only we had defied the council years ago and applied the hexcrystals to helping those suffering in Zaun first. If only I had paid more attention to physical security, twice, no thrice now. If only…

In the end, it may not have been necessary. The hexcore was in pieces and it would have taken a significant effort for the Hextech Partners to restore it.

"I swear, I will burn all the research related to the hexcore. Right now, I almost want to do that for all of hextech."

Heimerdinger patted his former student on the back in an awkward–especially given their height difference–but sincere gesture. "You are doing the right thing, my boy." The revered inventor used the hexclaw to obliterate the remnants.

"Please walk with me, Jayce. I understand you're grieving and I am crescent fallen at Viktor's death too; however, activity has helped me in times of loss. And there is much to be done."

Complying, the two headed to the Council Room. "I doubt my ability to help you. You and Shoola pointed out my errors at the meeting. And this, calumny, points to my greater capacity for unintentional destruction."

Heimerdinger touched his ex-students hand. "Even tragic mistakes are also opportunities for development and growth. For political manners, your inexperience may lead others to underestimate you, at least in certain situations. And for technological matters, you now have a near unassailable argument against letting hextech be weaponized."

Frowning, the Man of Progress looked at Heimerdinger. "You want me to wave Viktor's bloody shirt for political points?"

"Not as such, Jayce. But I know emotional arguments can have a great impact in the Council for those they identify with. Right now, for example, Cassandra holds a lot of sway with her daughter being held in Zaun, though her status and who is holding her is still uncertain."

Jayce weighed that. "According to Silco, Stillwater was attacked by the Firelights to free an ally of theirs." Jayce gestured around, "This was done by one of the chembarons without his knowledge. The bomber, Powder, is his unstable ward that the Firelights have manipulated to get her support. They sent him one of her braids as a warning, though it probably makes her less identifiable too. Oh, and he believes the Firelights gave the enforcers tips to have a cabal of chembarons arrested, which Shoola is looking into. Do you know what Silco was lying about and what he was telling the truth about?"

"Shaft couplings, no! But I intend to learn a lot more soon. I've had another parlay scheduled again. Sadly, it means I will not be able to make the Council meeting if I attend this."

Nodding, Jayce believed he caught up. "So you want me to meet this other Zaunite faction while you attend the Council meeting then."

Heimerdinger shook his head. "No, Jayce. Tonight, I want you to have my proxy at the Council."