During the first riots, Enforcers would make their barricades on the bridge. Their lack of fear toward the Undercity Residents allowed them to leave large gaps along the river in terms of barricades and defense. They could walk along the riverside with binoculars without fear of being shot.
Now?
–Zzt!–
An Enforcer, standing there as in the days of old, rocks backward before tumbling forward into the river with a hole in his head. His corpse floats with a faint puddle of blood surrounding him down the toxic river toward the sea. And above? Enforcers rush to line the entire embankment with sheet metal and reinforcements, lined with peepholes and differing heights to allow for observation without being exposed from all angles.
And on the other? What they couldn't do before? Zaunites roam the riverside with binoculars, their men and women with Syntixi-augmented guns providing longer range and armor piercing. Even the barricade, which Enforcers could set up on the Undercity side, had to be moved back to their side due to the rounds penetrating their defenses.
Traffic still flowed, as workers still had to move to keep both sides functioning, but it was heavily monitored by both sides. Undercity residents doing verification through word of mouth while Enforcers held clipboards with checklists.
And, returning from the Undercity side, Orion clasps the shoulder of one lithe man with a cane, attempting to cross.
"Viktor," Orion says grimly, causing him to jolt with surprise.
"Who? I, er-"
"I know who you are, and I know you've probably gone to see your old mentor, right?"
Viktor's eyes shift nervously. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Roughly pulling Viktor off to the side, attracting suspicious glances from the guarding Zaunites of Vander and Silco's groups, who begrudgingly stood side by side, he whispers next to Viktor's ear.
"Has Jayce been put on the Council yet? Have you completed your work on the Hexcore?"
"How do you know all of this?" Viktor asks in shock, his grip on the cane tightening. "No one should know- only a few people. Was it the Kirammans? Or-"
Orion shakes his head and grabs Viktor by the throat, his cane dropping to the ground. "GEH!"
"Answers."
"Y-Yes! T-the Council put him on after discussing the matter of the mage's surrender. W-Which failed."
Eyes flashing, with the cane jolting up to his hand and a torrent of purple and blue energies lacing together unevenly, Orion lets go and forcefully puts the cane back into his hand.
Viktor rubs his throat, coughing and wheezing as specks of blood scatter the ground.
"You're the mage!" he exclaims again. "But why the violence? Surely there was no need for-"
His words are cut short when Orion unscrews the top of the cane. A small vial of shimmer falls into his palm, freezing Viktor in place as he glances nervously between him and the vial.
"How are you uncovering my secrets so easily?" he mutters, baffled.
Orion rolls the vial in his hand, remembering what would transpire. Viktor's usage of it while inscribing runes into his body to interface with the Hexcore and prolong his life. Sky, his assistant, would die trying to stop him.
"You will kill Sky if you go through with your plan," Orion says coldly. "You'll kill half of Piltover. Your research will leave it in ruins for decades."
Viktor blinks several times, reeling from the words. His expression tightens as he snatches the vial back, Orion offering no resistance.
"You don't understand," Viktor says, his voice low. "This... isn't just some experiment. It's my life. It's Jayce's legacy. It's our only shot at proving that science and magic can coexist without fear and bloodshed."
"You know that's not how it works," Orion replies, his tone neutral. "You've seen what happens when control slips. It doesn't end in coexistence. It ends in annihilation."
"You're wrong," Viktor shoots back, his voice rising. "We're learning more every day. We're pushing the boundaries of what's possible. And I-" he hesitates, glancing to the vial-"I don't have time. This isn't about power. It's about survival."
"You came from the Undercity," Orion nods. "But this won't work. Magic is the fuel. Runes are the conduit. And your Hextech is the final application: the elevators, the power source, the Hexgates."
"Except there will always be leakage. Corruption. And when something goes wrong, it goes wrong in a terrible way."
'Like nuclear reactors, but in magical form,' Orion thinks.
"We've found a way to control it," Viktor insists. "The Hexcore has multiple layers acting as limiters and conduits to refocus lost energy. Fail-safes. If you don't believe me, come! See for yourself. Sky's helping stabilize the outer layer. It might surprise you."
"I've already seen the result. That's why I'm telling you to stop. Now."
"Yes, yes. Like Heimerdinger and so many others," Viktor says with disdain. "But Jayce and I will show them. We'll show the world that Piltover doesn't need to be ruled by fear of the unknown."
"If you live. And if your experiment to prolong your life doesn't kill Sky."
Viktor stiffens, his expression twitching. He slams his cane against the ground and turns.
"Don't speak of her," he growls. "You don't know what she means to me. You don't know what she's sacrificed."
"You're right," Orion says quietly. "I only know what she'll lose."
Viktor doesn't reply. His posture stiff but unwavering, he walks away, cane tapping sharply on the pavement.
Orion, eyes flickering and hand beginning to arc with energy, ponders...
'If I kill him now, and destroy the Hexcore later, all that's left is the gate. One problem solved.'
Everything slows.
'Should I try to save him by accepting his offer? Or kill him, now... Perhaps both? Would they allow me into the laboratory without restraints?'