Piltover - Council Room

The Council Chamber was steeped in tension as Councilor Mel Medarda rose from her seat. The golden light of the chandeliers reflected off her deep white and gold dress, her movements poised and deliberate. She slipped off her ornate ring, placing it gently on the polished surface of the council table. Raising one hand, she declared firmly:

"I support Councilor Talis' proposal for peace."

The spotlight above her activated, bathing her in its warm glow and marking her vote. The quiet hum of the room was broken as Councilor Shoola followed suit, standing and raising her hand. Another spotlight illuminated her position. One by one, other council members rose: Bolbok, Hoksel, and Salo. Their agreement was recorded in the same luminous fashion.

Another hand rose, this time from an unfamiliar figure. Councilor Terrance Hood, clad in the sharp, commanding colors of Piltover, stood with a quiet dignity. His military hat cast a shadow across his face, but his unwavering gaze gleamed with purpose. As his vote was cast, another spotlight activated, illuminating him in a warm golden glow.

The chamber's atmosphere grew heavier as all eyes turned to Cassandra Kiramman. She stood slowly, her hand trembling slightly before lifting into the air. The final spotlight activated, and the room filled with a soft hum as all lights converged on the center of the round council table.

Jayce Talis glanced across the room to Mel, his expression softening as a rare smile graced his lips. Mel returned the look, her dark eyes gleaming with hope. At last, a unanimous decision for peace. The weight of the moment was profound, and yet, fleeting.

Mel's smile faltered. A strange sensation prickled at her senses, and her eyes flicked toward the massive arched window behind the council table. Her gaze fixed on something distant—something fast approaching. A streak of blue energy trailed a rocket that sliced through the dusky Piltover sky.

"Mel, what's wrong?" Jayce's voice cut through the haze of her thoughts.

Her words were barely above a whisper, laced with urgency. "It's a rocket."

Jayce's eyes darted toward the window. Without hesitation, he sprang into action. "Everyone, get down!" His voice boomed with authority as he lunged toward Mel, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

The councilors scattered, ducking under the large marble table for cover. Jayce held Mel tightly, shielding her with his broad frame. The room filled with the deafening roar of the rocket as it whistled past the building. The council chamber shuddered violently, but the missile did not strike its intended target.

Instead, it veered off course, slamming into a nearby street. A cataclysmic explosion erupted, shaking the very foundations of the building. Shards of glass from the shattered window rained down. The fiery bloom of destruction spread outward, consuming buildings and sending plumes of smoke spiraling into the air.

Jayce's heart raced as he opened his eyes, scanning the room for signs of danger. He loosened his grip on Mel, his hands instinctively reaching for her face. "Mel, are you okay?" His voice was thick with concern.

Mel nodded, her face pale but resolute. "I'm fine," she assured him, though her gaze lingered on the destruction outside.

Before either of them could fully process the moment, the chamber doors burst open. The heavy thud of boots echoed through the room as a figure dashed in. It was Tracer, clad in Piltover's colors, her movements a blur of urgency. Her glowing chronal harness pulsed faintly, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Octane followed closely, skidding to a halt in the doorway, his goggles reflecting the dim light of the chamber.

"We received a distress signal!" Tracer's voice was sharp, cutting through the smoke-filled air. Her eyes darted across the room, scanning the councilors huddled beneath the table. "Is everyone alright?"

Jayce straightened, his protective stance unyielding even as relief crossed his face. "We're fine, but the city—" He gestured toward the window, where smoke and fire consumed the skyline.

Councilor Terrance Hood stepped forward, his commanding presence filling the room. "I'll handle it," he said firmly, turning toward Tracer and Octane. "Head to where the rocket landed. Tend to the wounded first and ensure no one is left hurt or unaccounted for."

Tracer nodded, already activating her communicator. "Understood. We'll secure the perimeter and coordinate evac for the civilians." She turned to Octane, her voice sharp with urgency. "Let's go, Octavio."

Octane responded with a quick, exaggerated thumbs-up, his trademark grin never faltering. "On it!" With a burst of kinetic energy, he dashed out of the room, disappearing in a blur.

Terrance then turned toward the council table's central cylinder device, positioned in the middle of the open circle. "Cortana," he commanded.

The cylinder activated with a low hum, coming to life as a hologram of Cortana materialized above it, her ethereal blue form flickering slightly.

Terrance's tone was steady but urgent. "Get Johnson and a team of Enforcers and Marines to the site. Ensure the civilians are prioritized—aid anyone caught in the rocket's blast and secure the area."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Cortana's holographic form inclined her head slightly, her voice smooth and efficient. "Understood. Sergeant Johnson and his squad will be deployed immediately. I'll update you with their progress shortly."

The hologram shimmered briefly before fading, leaving the room in tense silence.

As the councilors began to rise from their cover, the weight of the attack settled over them. The promise of peace, mere moments ago, now teetered on the edge of a knife. Mel exchanged a glance with Jayce, her earlier hope tempered by the grim reality that their work was far from over.

The room was still reeling from the blast when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the shattered doors. Frank Woods and Alex Mason entered first, their weapons raised, scanning the room with sharp, trained eyes. Behind them, two more figures appeared—Vi and Caitlyn. The Enforcer and her companion were bruised and bloodied, their faces etched with signs of an earlier confrontation.

Caitlyn's eyes widened in panic as she scanned the chamber, her heart leaping into her throat when she saw her mother. "Mother!" she cried, sprinting across the room. She dropped her rifle in a clatter and threw her arms around Cassandra Kiramman, pulling her into a fierce embrace. Cassandra, shaken but unharmed, held her daughter tightly, her trembling hand stroking Caitlyn's hair.

Vi stood back, leaning against the doorframe as she exhaled with relief. The tension in her shoulders eased as she watched Caitlyn reunite with her mother.

Woods broke the moment, his voice sharp and commanding as his weapon swept the room. "Who the hell made the distress signal?" His eyes landed on Cassandra, who raised one hand, her other arm still holding Caitlyn protectively.

"I did," Cassandra said, her voice calm despite the chaos.

Woods gave a short nod, signaling to Mason, who lowered his rifle slightly but kept it ready. The two moved further into the chamber, their attention shifting to Jayce and Mel. Mason's face was grim as he spoke. "What happened here?"

Mel stepped forward, her expression one of weary composure. "A rocket flew toward the building. It missed us by sheer luck and hit the street below," she explained, her voice steady but edged with unease. "It was targeting the council."

Mason exchanged a look with Woods, the silent understanding between them palpable. Mason's jaw tightened as he said, "This wasn't random. It's a planned attack—deliberate and precise." He activated his comms, his voice firm. "Lena, what's the status of the street? Any casualties?"

Tracer, already coordinating outside, responded immediately. "I'm checking now. I'll update as soon as I know."

Mason gave a curt nod. "Keep us posted." He turned back to the room, his expression dark. "Whoever did this wanted the council gone. They just weren't expecting to miss."

Meanwhile, Caitlyn, still clinging to her mother, looked up with tear-filled eyes. "I thought you were dead," she said, her voice breaking. Cassandra held her tighter, her own voice soft but resolute.

"I'm here, my dear. I'm fine," Cassandra reassured her. "You came in time."

As the tension in the room began to settle, Cassandra looked at her daughter curiously. "How did you know we were in danger?"

Caitlyn hesitated, her brow furrowed as she glanced at Vi, then back to her mother. "It was Jinx," she said, her voice wavering. "She planned this. She wanted to take down the council."

The revelation hung in the air like a lead weight. Vi tensed at the mention of Jinx, her fists clenching at her sides.

But then Caitlyn's expression shifted to one of confusion. "The rocket... it missed. That doesn't make sense. Jinx doesn't miss."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed her words. Jayce exchanged a glance with Mel, unease flickering in their eyes. Woods and Mason, however, exchanged a more calculated look, their minds already running through the implications.

"If it missed," Mason said slowly, his voice deliberate, "then it wasn't just bad aim. Either something went wrong with her plan... or it's part of something bigger."

The room's atmosphere grew heavier, a silence filled with the weight of Caitlyn's revelation. Jayce exchanged a worried glance with Mel, the gravity of the situation dawning on them. Across the room, Mason and Woods stood rigid, their expressions focused but grim, already piecing together the potential implications.

As if on cue, Mason's comms crackled to life. Tracer's voice came through, her tone urgent. "Mason, it's Lena. I've got an update."

He pressed a finger to his earpiece, his jaw tightening. "Go ahead, Lena."

"There are multiple casualties, possibly more. The projectile caused significant damage—buildings collapsed, and fires are spreading."

Mason closed his eyes briefly and muttered under his breath, "Shit."

Jayce, noticing Mason's expression, stepped closer. "What did Lena say?" he asked, his voice a mix of apprehension and dread.

Mason glanced at him, his eyes hard. "The impact was bad. There are casualties—probably a lot of them. Buildings are down, and fires are raging."

Jayce's shoulders slumped slightly as the words sank in. His breaths came faster, more shallow, as guilt began to gnaw at him. Lives had been lost—innocent lives—all because of Jinx's vendetta. Next to him, Mel's composed façade cracked. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes reflecting the weight of the tragedy.

Caitlyn, still standing close to her mother, felt her stomach churn. Though relief coursed through her knowing Cassandra was safe, the reality of the destruction Jinx had caused hit her hard. Her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The thought of the lives lost, the families torn apart, burned in her mind. Her jaw tightened, and her usually calm demeanor gave way to simmering anger.

Vi, noticed Caitlyn's shift. Her keen eyes observed the tension in Caitlyn's frame, the way her breath quickened. Vi had seen that look before—it was a mix of guilt, anger, and determination. She stepped closer, though she hesitated. Caitlyn's focus was elsewhere, her thoughts clearly racing.

However, Viktor suddenly began to cough, his frail body shuddering with each convulsion. His hand shot up to clutch his chest, his face contorted in pain.

"Viktor?" Jayce's voice was sharp with alarm as he turned toward his friend. But before Viktor could respond, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the cold floor.

Jayce was at his side in an instant, crouching and shaking him gently. "Viktor! Stay with me!"

Behind him, Mel, Vi, and Caitlyn rushed forward. Mel's voice cut through the rising panic. "What's happening to him?"

Jayce's expression was grim as he glanced back at her. "He's sick," he said simply, the weight of those words heavy in the air.

Mason stepped forward, his voice brisk and authoritative. "We'll take him to the medbay. Come on."

"No!" Jayce barked, shaking his head fiercely. "There isn't time." Without hesitation, he slipped his arms under Viktor, lifting him off the ground with surprising ease. "I'll take him to the lab. I know what he needs."

Mel stood frozen for a moment, worry etched across her face as she watched Jayce stride purposefully out of the room with Viktor in his arms.

Vi and Caitlyn exchanged uneasy glances, their concern mirroring one another.

As Jayce disappeared through the doors, Mel's gaze lingered, her usually composed demeanor giving way to an unspoken fear. She folded her arms across her chest as though shielding herself from the growing sense of helplessness.