The vibrant green lights trailed behind the small flying vehicle and stopped near Heimerdinger on the hospital rooftop.

"Incredible," the founder of Piltover said. Its two riders got off, the taller one in a pig mask less gracefully than the owl one.

"You should see it when they're going fast," the pig told him with a filtered woman's voice. The elusive Powder/Jinx?

"Hopefully in a race or exhibition," Heimerdinger said. He moved up to the owl. "You must be the inventor of it as well as the 'little man' who has almost started this big war." He extended his hand. "Not to speak critically of height, of course."

Even with mask, Heimerdinger believed he could read human emotions decently when he was focused and trying. 'Little Man' hit him and got him wondering what I know.

"War has been brought to us. You've only felt a fraction of what fissure folk feel regularly. But, I will take a Councilor's hand if it is in goodwill," the owl answered and did so.

Keep him off balance? No, move on. "In that spirit, I selected this hospital purposefully. You are free to take 'V' with you. If you wish him to stay for our medical facilities, that is also fine. No charges have or will be brought."

"Thank you, Councilor Heimerdinger," the pig said but then looked at the owl. The owl nodded.

Heimerdinger took a closer look at the hoverboard. "For this goodwill I'd like answers to the same questions we asked of Silco, whom I understand you have a rivalry with. The first is about the killing of the previous sheriff. Do you claim responsibility?"

"My colleague is more informed about that. She'll respond," the owl said and took a small step back.

The pig sighed. "The new sheriff should have told you most of what is known. We are convinced it was involuntary manslaughter and should be a low priority given the risk of war."

That is what Sheriff Derek said Caitlyn had reported and what Silco hypothesized.

"It seems significant though, as Marcus helped the Undercity. Was he being blackmailed, bribed, or somehow in Silco's sway?"

"Probable, but we have no evidence to present at this time," the pig replied.

Heimerdinger turned the hoverboard over and continued studying it. Pitch seems off. "And the attack on the guards, the kidnapped captain, and the stolen gemstone?"

"This is a lot of what… what's the term?" the owl asked, looking at the pig.

"Proffer?"

The owl snapped his fingers. Talons? "Yes. We are doing a lot of A and little Q."

Heimerdinger shrugged. "I'm not planning on arresting anyone. But important to bring to the Council which factions in Zaun are being forthright and which ones hold hostages or the capacity to launch a cataclysmic new Rune War."

"They don't have hostages," the pig claimed definitively. They? Curious. "Caitlyn is unharmed and has some freedom to investigate both sides of the Pilt."

Heimerdinger stood firm. "I want evidence that she is not a political prisoner, at least by our next meeting."

The owl's fist clenched. "How dare you speak of–"

"Don't," the pig interrupted. "Fine. This should buy the Firelights something." She brought her hand up to her face and removed the Ionian mask.

Heimerdinger usually kept his fellow councilors at arm's length, but he had a fondness for children. He had been thinking of little Cait since he learned of Cassandra's daughter's abduction and he recognized her instantly.

"Hypothesize me! You're as formidable as your mother, Captain." So that's why he brought her. Not as a precaution or another hoverboard, but as a show of benevolence. Assuming she is truly free.

Caitlyn seemed ambivalent to that remark. "The Firelights brought me to the Undercity for medical care and then to help them. There was an altercation, but I've not been in physical danger from them since."

Unless she is being coerced still. But that seems unlikely. "Glad to hear. Do you both acknowledge the robbery of the gemstone?"

The owl glanced at his pocket watch. An attempted power move? I should be the one to want this to go quickly. "Yes and yes. Now, we'll ask you something."

"Please proceed, Ekko."

Again, the mask helped the Firelight leader, but Heimerdinger still felt ahead by how he shifted his feet. He also took a heartbeat before continuing.

"What was the outcome of meeting with Silco?"

Heimerdinger's inclinations were toward the truth. "In summary, we learned more about the poor conditions in the Undercity, his views on the chembarons and the Firelights, and his duplicity and connection to the bomber Powder/Jinx. There was a sentiment among the delegation to find a non-violent resolution for all."

Sighing, Ekko brought a hand to his face. "So at least part of the Council wants peace with Silco and the rest wants war on all of Zaun?"

Heimerdinger shook his head. "Peace with Zaun. There has been a lot of failure by the Council and me to understand the underground and while that doesn't excuse the recent violence it does contextualize it. We must understand it to find solutions for the present."

Ekko surprised both of his roofmates by taking off his mask. "That would be something, but that is going to be hard for most fissure folk to believe."

Taking a step closer, Heimerding gave a faint nod. "Therein lies unstable ground for me, but one I sense I must move to. I fear, especially in light of recent events, you and Silco will need to compel us."

"You–you want me to weaponize the gemstone?" Ekko asked with wide eyes.

"No, most assuredly not. I want you to convince the Council you can and have. Because my peers are so focused on their wealth and power, I doubt a moral argument will win them over. If you will be a greater threat to them as a warring party than as an independent neighbor, they will be swayed."

Cait spoke up. "Councilor, that is close to..."

"Obstruction? Sedition? Treason? Yes. I feel it is also close to equity, justice, and safety for people we've failed and honestly benefited from their exploitation for much of my life. I may be making my worst mistake, but from my mixed reports, Silco's account, and my impressions here, you are now the best hope I see to have the arcane not create vast devastation."

Ekko still looked skeptical and his furrowed brow remained until he replied. "Do you know how much time we have to make a credible threat? Perhaps if I could get my hands on older hex crystals, I could destroy something like an uncrewed airship and claim it was the hexgem."

"That would be difficult to provide you or set up for you to steal. They are now heavily guarded and such an attack would give the warhawks the final push they need. I wish to touch on those past incidents. Stillwater was about liberating a prisoner called Vi? Is she also a brilliant inventor that can help with the gemstone?"

Cait chuckled at that. Ekko gave a mildly rebuking look at her before returning to the yordle. "Vi was not an inventor, but was a political prisoner and family to an ally of ours. She was shot in the lung at the end by a plant from Silco."

Shot, but not dead… I should let him think he's getting something over on me. "Sorry to hear that. There was much bloodshed and death in that venture and it is disappointing a wrong wasn't at least righted by it. What about the attempted robbery of the hexcore and kidnapping of Viktor."

"A hexcore? Viktor… he's the collaborator with Jayce Tallis?"

Collaborator. You've a talent for diplomatic talk, young man. And you seem sincere in not knowing about it. Which fits. "Was, sadly. There was absolutely dangerous hextech that destroyed him and his would-be kidnappers. It was Stillwater and that which pushed Sheriff Derek to make the tower raid deadly."

Cait and Ekko looked at each other then both looked at him. "You are more informed than you give yourself credit for, Heimerdinger. What tower raid?"

Is he confusing his stories? "Ekko, we raided the tower of iron and glass between the cities that was the chembarons base from the tip you sent us. You wanted them arrested, but the enforcers killed them all. Well, except Smeech. Yordles are not so easy to kill ," he added, allowing himself a boast for his genus.

Tightening the grip on his club, Ekko took a couple of cleansing breaths with his eyes closed before replying. "That was not me. It was probably a ploy by Silco to either alienate the Firelights as betraying Zaun or if it had failed to motivate the chembarons against us."

And I thought Topside politics could be intercine. If they were united, the underground likely could have forced independence years ago. "I see. Well, if you don't have more questions at this time, I will let you return to make a strong bluff with the gemstone." Heimerdinger waited a couple moments. "Caitlyn, what are your plans? If I could trouble at least one of you to bring me to the Council meeting before it ends, that should help us all."

Caitlyn frowned in contemplation. "I'll help Ekko take V if that is their intent and then bring you to the meeting."

Heimerdinger nodded and the three went down the stairs. They got looks, but the Main Councilor was not likely to be challenged directly by any Piltovian. V was weak, but after getting his blessing they secured him on Ekko's hoverboard and they flew to the Council room.

I see what she meant about them going fast. Heimerdinger found the flying a thrill and was reminding himself about his immortality as he held tightly onto Caitlyn's calves.