Caitlyn got off the boat, slowly walking into the prison that held most of the crime bosses in it, "I need to speak with one of the inmates."

"Oh, folks in here usually aren't very talkative." The Warden shook his head.

"This one was hit by friendly fire. He's got reason to talk. Must have been sent in today?" Caitlyn tilted her head.

"Oh. Inmate 2135. Yeah, I'm, uh, afraid that's not possible." The Warden shook his head.

"Why not?"

"Uh, there's been... An incident."

"You don't understand, I have to talk to him." Caitlyn nodded.

"Oh, you'll be able to. As soon as he can move his jaw again." The Warden chuckled.

"Who assaulted him?"

Once the two had a talk, Caitlyn went down the lift to very last floor, walking up to a cell. Inside was a girl, one with pink hair and tattoos. Caitlyn tilted her head and slowly walked closer.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I took a look at your file. There's no record of you or your crimes. What are you here for?" Caitlyn asked.

"My sunny personality." She spoke sarcastically.

"You attacked an inmate, why?"

"Why not?"

"He was a witness in an ongoing investigation."

"Hm, bummer."

Caitlyn cursed and began to walk off, "This was a waste of time."

"Couldn't have put it any better." The girl shrugged,"Hey, give Silco a kiss on that winning eye of his, will you?"

'Silco? The industrialist?" Caitlyn stopped.

"Okay, this is getting old. Can you just send in whoever's gonna kick the shit out of me, so I can get on with my night?" The girl rolled her eyes.

Caitlyn sighed, "Does this mean anything to you?"

She held up the picture she took of the skull on the blimp.

Her eyes widened,"Where did you get this?"

Caitlyn pulled it away, "My question first. He worked for Silco?"

"Uh, they all do. How can anyone not know that? Where did you find this?" She shook her head.

"There was an attack. This is evidence. I need proof if I'm to believe what you're saying about Silco."

"I could get in for you, just not in here." She shrugged.

"In what mad world would I trust someone like you?" Caitlyn crossed her arms.

"Someone like me?" She scoffed,"You enforcers are all the same. Just asshole criminals in fancy uniforms. You know what? Find Silco yourself."

"I will, thank you." Caitlyn nodded.

"Heh, Undercity's gonna eat you alive."

Caitlyn thought for a second, this girl could help her.

She put some papers on the man's desk, "I've got orders from Councilor Talis, concerning Inmate 516."

"Not cooperative, huh?" The Warden chuckled, taking out a cane,"Want us to have a talk with her?"

"Wh- No." She shook her head.

"Oh."

"It's for her release."

"Huh? Since when was he a Councilor?" He asked.

"Since today."

The Warden rolled his eyes, scanning over the paper.

"How many chats have you had with her?" Caitlyn asked.

"You know, I never even thought to count." The Warden shrugged.

Caitlyn leaned against the desk, "What's her name?"

"Val." He answered, going to get her.

Caitlyn nodded slowly.

**

"You said you could control her. I lost six officers. Six! She pushed it too far this time. The Council's up in arms. I can't make this go away for you unless you give me something to work with. Arresting her would be doing you a favor." Marcus scoffed.

"I don't need favors. I need you to do your job." Silco shook his head,"The Firelights have been a thorn in both our sides. They ambushed my shipment at the Hexgates on the same day as the attack. It seems the Council has it's culprit."

"Oh, that's tidy for you. What if I'm not interested in playing along?" Marcus asked.

"We've accomplished a lot together, Marcus. Sheriff. And there is more yet to achieve. I hope you can remain a part of it. For their families. From an anonymous, concerned citizen." Silco hummed, pushing some money towards him.

Marcus slowly took the money before he got up and left.

**

"Boring... Boring. Wow, super boring." Rue rolled her eyes until she found a page, holding the orb in her hand,"Here we go! It's all about these runes. They form some kind of math-y, magic-y gateway. To the realm of heebie-jeebies. And this. Turns it on. So... here goes."

All of a sudden, the orb blew up and... She was back. Back to that night. She could see the explosion in her mind. Her brothers, her sister, Vander. What she did. That's when she began to sob and hyperventilate. Mylo's constant whispers in her head. Your fault. Your fault. It's your fault we're not here. It's all your fault!

"No! No! It was a mistake! It was a mistake." Rue whispered, glancing at the stuffed bunny on the floor before she got up and quickly ran off.

**

"I heard the bathysphere has a nice view. That could be a good way to get a lay of the land." Caitlyn suggested.

"Too risky." Val shook her head.

"What?" Caitlyn blinked, but as she did, Val was gone, already sliding down to her old home.

Caitlyn sighed, trying her best to follow Val but she was always one step ahead of her. When Val got to the bottom, she was stopped by a male and a woman, the male had a very, nice red jacket. The man slowly approached, looking her up and down and whistling.

"Nice jacket." Val pointed.

Caitlyn took deep breaths as she panted, finally catching up with Val.

Val walked over, pulling on the jacket and adjusting the goggles on her head,"Welcome to the Lanes."

Caitlyn looked behind Val, seeing the two naked people.

"You almost got me killed."

"My little sister could do that when she was seven." Val threw another jacket at her,"All us fissure folk can. Don't you want to blend in?"

Caitlyn put on the outfit before she followed her. They walked until they got to a food stall. Val smiled, dragging Caitlyn inside. Soon enough, Val was given food, where Caitlyn watched in disgust at how she ate.

"Oh, Jericho! Have I missed these." She continued eating.

Jericho laughed and chopped a fish. Val smiled before offering one to Caitlyn.

"No thank you."

"About what? The meat?" Val raised a brow as Jericho slammed his knife down,"Definitely not above board."

"Silco. His connections? Isn't that why we're here?" Caitlyn whispered.

"We're here because I'm hungry. Do you know what prison food is like?" Val rolled her eyes,"No, of course, you don't."

"Unbelievable. I didn't break you out of jail to eat... Slop. I knew this was a terrible idea. You don't actually know anything, do you?" She pointed.

Val ignored her, finishing her food,"Better than I remember."

Jericho laughed before he handed her a napkin. Val smirked as she lifted up the corner to check it. She then got up from her stool and begna to walk off, gesturing for Caitlyn to follow her. Caitlyn looked at the two before she followed.

**

"I haven't been here in years. Since my parents brought me for the winter fest." Jayce sighed, watching over the violist.

"We're not here for the performance. Your House is in trouble. That merchant formerly enjoyed certain leniencies with regard to her trade in exchange for her generous Academy patronage." Mel hummed.

"By leniencies you mean corruption?" He chuckled.

"Hm, Amara's harmless." She shrugged before pointing,"Oh, look at those two stooges."

"Councilors Hoskel and Salo. Don't they hate each other?" He raised a brow.

"Yes, but they share a taste for the finer Noxian spirits, technically an illegal import." Mel took a sip of her drink.

"I tightened our security." Jayce nodded.

"And in so doing, put a target on your back. There are those who covet your power over the wealth the Hexgates afford and would take any opportunity to seize it from you. You've just made yourself everyone's common enemy, Jayce." Mel sighed.

"I can't compromise the safety of the Hexgates for collateral." Jayce shook his head.

"No one's asking you to. These are simply favors amongst friends."

"I never wanted anything to do with politics. You pushed this on me." He pointed.

"You're a symbol of the future now, Jayce, whether you like it or not. With that comes the potential to shape your own destiny. The Council assumes you'll fail. Time to prove them all wrong. Once again." Mel shook her head.

That's when Amara walked in, closing the door behind her.

"Welcome Amara." Mel smiled,"How's little Rohan."

"Councilor Medarda. Councilor Talis. He's just as precocious as ever." Amara rolled her eyes, "I had quite a shock this morning. Enforcers banging on my door."

"Oh, I hope you'll understand, Jayce had to make a show of safety. But he's here now to negotiate all his deals personally. Councilor Talis is willing to reinstate former trade privileges to those who share his vision." Mel explained,"Can we count you amongst them?"

"Councilor Bolbok seems to think other arrangements would be more profitable." Amara sighed.

"The man's a fool." Mel scoffed,"With him, you'd be investing in the past. With us, you'd be investing in the future."

Jayce hesitated before he spoke, "You know, Councilor Medarda's right. The Hexgates are only the beginning. In fact, we're currently looking for new partners in our Hextech research, and as a supporter of House Talis, you'd be the first in line to any of our advancements."

"How could I say no to such an auspicious offer?" Amara rasied a brow.

"Hextech partners?" Mel whispered as they walked to the side.

"Has a nice ring, doesn't it?" Jayce smirked.

"Mm. Your audience awaits, Councilor." Mel hummed as Jayce left the stall.

"He's been quite the investment." Amara walked over to her.

"Indeed. Better than expected." Mel watched him.

**

Val and Caitlyn walked for a while before they got to a large building. The guard let them in an... Wait, was this...?

"The one place where all the secrets are spilled." Val hummed.

Caitlyn watched everything as they walked by, she could see in all the rooms. What was going on in them, she had to take a second glance at what was happening in the bathroom.

"How exactly do you propose we go about this?"

"Let 'em think you work here." Val shrugged.

"Excuse me? I will not." Caitlyn gasped.

"You know what your problem is?" Val raised a brow.

"Please. Tell me." Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

"You expect everyone to give you what you want." Val shook her head,"If you really want people to talk to you, you have to let them think you have what they want."

"And what do I have?" Caitlyn watched Val as she circled her.

"You're hot, cupcake." Val looked her up and down before pinning her against the wall,"So what'll it be, man or woman?"

"I..um.." Caitlyn was lost for words, a man walking behind the two.

"Hi. I-I'm Pim. What's y-your name?" He asked.

"Matilda, but you can call her whatever you like." Val winked.

Caitlyn looked at Val before she looked at Pim, "Ah, yes. Matilda. My parents named me Matilda. After my great-grandmother Matilda, the, uh..."

Val rolled her eyes, walking away from the pair and down the hall.

"Would you believe it?" The owner of the club smiled once she seen Val.

**

Silco walked into his office, only to see Marcus, "Sheriff, what a lovely surprise."

"The Hextech wonder boy is on the Council now and he's asking questions. It's only a matter of time before he finds the truth." Marcus informed him.

"What is truth, but a survivor's story?" Silco asked.

Marcus sighed,"If I'm discovered, we're both finished."

"Good thing you've located proof of the Firelights' involvement." Silco put one of Rue's grenades on the desk.

"This has gone too far ." Marcus shook his head, stepping back.

"Hm? Imagining yourself a hero? One final act to make you the martyr you've always seen yourself as? Then what are you waiting for?" Silco tilted his head.

Marcus looked at the grenade. In his head, he saw it explode and kill him but he quickly shook his head, bringing him back to reality. Marcus sighed before he took the grenade and walked out of the room.

Silco shook his head, sitting down,"Ah, he's faltering. You need to weaponize the Hextech soon. Once we've cracked their prize, topside will have no power over us."

Once again, Rue was up in the rafters, listening into the conversation, "I can't do it. Just... Give it to the doctor."

"You're the only person I can trust with this, Rue." Silco told her.

"I keep... Seeing them... That day." Rue shook her head, it haunted her.

"Fear haunts us all, child." Silco hummed.

**

"Sweetheart, I was real sad to hear about Vander. And the kids. Just terrible." Madame sighed.

"By the looks of it, no one down here lifted a finger to stop Silco." Val leaned back in her chair.

"A few tried but Silco's got the muscle... And the money. He took over the Last Drop." Madame shook her head.

"I saw." Val nodded slowly.

"Things have changed without Vander looking out for us."

"Have you heard anything about Mina? I need to find her." Val asked.

"Silco's number two's a regular. I can have Miguel tell you where to find her." Madame told her.

Val slowly got up,"I owe you."

"It's nothing."

Val nodded, walking out of the room and seeing... Caitlyn? Yeah, that was her, happily flirting with a female member of staff. She was natural, too much of a natural in fact.