"Fifty of our people, dead," Vander said grimly. "Impressively, you managed to subdue scores of Enforcers in Stillwater and free hundreds of ours. And then killed dozens of Noxians when you returned!"
Raising an eyebrow, he lowered the report in front of him. "Kill the outsiders, spare the people of Piltover? Is that it? It would've been easier to kill the Enforcers on Stillwater, spared a few losses, if you were going to outright declare war on Topside."
The low hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound after he finished speaking.
"The Noxians, Ambessa, were an unforeseen element," Silco grunted. "Their leader is more like me... while the Enforcers are like you."
Silco and Vander glared at each other. Despite Silco being tied up to a chair in the center of the room, they still looked like they wanted to rip each other's throats out.
"I- I gotta ask," Mylo piped up nervously from the side, motioning at Orion slumped in the corner. "W-why isn't he tied up?"
Whack.
"OW!" Mylo winced as Claggor smacked him on the back of the head. "What? It's a serious question! He's part of the problem!"
"Yes, Mylo, he is," Vander sighed, irritated. "But use that amazingly smooth brain of yours to think: 'Is that possible?'"
Mylo recoiled, confused and hurt, while the others shook their heads at him.
"Yes, Vander," Silco said mockingly. "What is he capable of? Would he let himself be imprisoned again? The world will never know- after you let him rot in Stillwater for all those years."
"You left him there as well."
"Yes, but not out of fear. You let him rot after playing your 'guardian role' for all the children-"
"Stop," Orion interrupted, waving his hand. The room fell still with tension. Worry and guilt, mixed with fear. It wasn't an atmosphere he enjoyed, despite it feeling justifiable. He had every right to create the mood, after all. And this back and forth about him was making him feel like an object, again.
"The dice have been cast. Silco's plans failed. Noxus and Piltover will be planning an invasion of the Undercity, likely soon," Orion said. "Your 'monster' needs to eat to fight again. And those weapons you've been stockpiling need to be used."
He continued listing off the problems in his head.
"The Gray Lady will be on the move. The Black Rose following Mel will be after me. And Janna still needs more followers."
"Janna?" Vander asked, raising his eyebrows.
"It's been his thing since he came out of his cell," Silco said dismissively.
The two locked eyes for a rare moment of mutual understanding despite their enmity.
"Those are your problems, boy," Silco said coldly. "Your battles, not ours. We have to fight the larger wars ahead."
Orion sighed. "Then they subdue me, your trump card is gone, and half your forces don't want to use your weapons," he said, gesturing loosely at Vander, whose face tightened. "And your forces, Silco, have been decimated."
"Hundreds more are willing to take their place to escape their hell. That was never an issue."
"Why did this happen again? Remind me," Vander asked, crossing his arms.
"Silco wants Zaun. You want peace. Ambessa wants weapons," Orion said simply. "Topside or Undercity weapons- it doesn't matter. She just wants Piltover's power."
"Isn't her daughter on the Council?" Powder piped up next to Vi, surprising everyone. "Why doesn't she just talk to her? Do some family stuff, y'know?"
"Complicated relationships. Different ideals," Orion replied, his tired gaze bouncing between Vander and Silco. "It's never that simple."
Silence returned to the room as everyone sank into thought. Vander resumed pacing, hands behind his back, brows deeply furrowed, while the others began to stir.
"Caitlyn already contacted me," Vi said slowly. "She said if we turn Orion in, they'll halt the invasion into the Undercity. I said no!" She raised her voice at the end, defensive under Powder's sharp glare and the others' disapproving looks.
Silco scowled, watching Vander carefully as his expression shifted.
"Don't tell me you're thinking about it- turning Orion in? Turning me in? Returning to your peace?" Silco spat.
"That would be the simplest way, wouldn't it?" Vander said, lifting his gaze back to Orion. His voice was heavy. "But it can never be that simple, can it?"
"No," Vander said. "This time they won't stop there. Not after all of this."
Vander's gaze shifted to Isha before returning to Silco.
Silco and Vander locked eyes again until Silco eventually smirked triumphantly, wiggling his hands in the rope. "As Orion said, "The dice have been cast." Will we be casting ours together again?"
"Looks like it," he replied begrudgingly.
-----------------
"You need to strike tonight, before that mage can recover!" Ambessa slammed her hands down on the council's table. Her voice was firm as a war advisor, and forceful in nature.
Robotic clinking and whining noises came from Bolbok as he angrily slammed the table as well, his robotic voice rising with fury. "I knew this would happen! One mage could be the downfall of all Piltover!"
"And those Undercity vermin have weapons that surpass ours. I doubt Jayce here has been designing any weapons?" Hoskel asked with a tinge of hope, holding the child's toy given to him by Mel.
Jayce and Viktor shook their heads grimly.
"You need to act. Strike now before they recover their forces," Ambessa insisted. "Tonight we were lucky and severely wounded their morale. But their weapons are formidable. Allow them to rally, and you will suffer."
"Pardon my interruption," Caitlyn said carefully. "I have contacts in the Undercity. They may be willing to turn over the mage-"
"Child, they won't turn over their trump card," Ambessa scoffed. "A mage is worth more than armies. You saw why."
Mel cut in sharply, her authority clashing with her mother's. "Do you have reason to believe they will turn him in?"
Caitlyn paused, contemplating, and then nodded firmly.
"This is foolish! They would be fools to do so!" Ambessa snapped. "Do not believe in this naivety, Mel!"
"Our way is to seek peace first, Mother. This isn't Noxus."
Bolbok's vocal cords activated again, grinding out a sharp mechanical noise. "Jayce Talis. Are you capable of making weapons that can rival theirs?"
"We can, but..." Jayce began.
Viktor stepped in. "But that is not Hextech's intended use. They were created to save and improve lives."
"You will save lives by helping us end this," Ambessa retorted coldly.
"Enough!" Heimerdinger, who had been silently observing with growing concern, finally spoke. "It is true: a mage in Piltover cannot be allowed. How one managed to live here for so long needs to be investigated."
Heimerdinger's voice grew firmer. "I stand with the girl," he said, motioning at Caitlyn. "Let's see if they seek peace first. You said the mage was nearly defeated?"
Ambessa nodded, but her expression held disgust toward Heimerdinger.
"Something must be wrong with him, then. A mage, as we who have experienced magic know, is not so easily defeated. We must protect Piltover from this mage and imprison those dangerous criminals who have escaped, and the culprits who threaten Piltover's very existence."
"All in favor of this plan?" Mel's voice rose as she lifted her hand.