Part 26 - Initiative

The next morning soon arrived. Within the Topside, Caitlyn was walking towards the direction of the bridge where the Topside and Undercity connect. She witnessed as enforcers roam the midway part of the bridge.

Once she walked up to them, the enforcers looked her way, in confusion. "Morning, I spoke with Jayce. He told me that he would inform you that I'm allowed to proceed into the Undercity." Caitlyn informed the guards. Even so, they stood in her way, with guns in their arms.

Caitlyn watched them in confusion, while wondering why they haven't gotten out of the way by now. "Council member Mel told us that he isn't authorized to give you that permission..Mel has been around for much longer, so we trust her word first. If we had known better, we wouldn't have let that other girl go through. Won't make the same mistake with you." The enforcer confessed to Caitlyn, who immediately grew confused at the confession.

The confusion that she has made her eyebrows furrow. "Seriously, Mel?" Caitlyn asked, and the enforcer informed her once more. Realizing that there's no point in arguing, Caitlyn turned around, and walked off with an irritated expression.

In that very morning, Jayce and Mel were in the same room. With Jayce putting on clothes, and Mel taking a shower. While doing that, someone suddenly knocked on their door.

Jayce walked over to open it, and once he did, he saw Caitlyn standing in front of him. He's quickly shocked at the fact she's at his door so early in the morning. "Mel told the enforcers that I'm not allowed to go into the Undercity." Caitlyn admitted with an irritated tone, making Jayce quickly walk out and close the door behind him. Out of fear that Mel would overhear whatever Caitlyn had to say.

"What, are you sure?" Jayce asked.

"Yes, I just went to the bridge..they told me how her word is more valuable than yours, since she's been an enforcer for longer." Caitlyn explained, while Jayce began frowning in thought. "You have to help me get into the Undercity. I can tell Vi to bring back the gemstone and get evidence on Silco." Caitlyn suggested in a alarmingly hasty tone.

Jayce looked at Caitlyn with a bit of skepticism, before turning around towards the direction of his room. He realized the shower was no longer on, which meant Mel could've been hearing their conversation. "Um..just be patient, I'll see what I can do." Jayce responded, before backing away into his room.

Caitlyn let out a stressful sigh, before walking away from Jayce's door.

As Jayce walked back into his room, his eyes landed on Mel, who had a towel wrapped around her body and hair. "Mel..I just got done talking with Caitlyn. You know I granted her access to go to the Undercity, but she told me that you told the enforcers that she couldn't." Jayce confessed, while Mel roamed around through her drawers for clothes.

"That's correct." Mel answered, making Jayce more shocked. "Well why? I know it may be hard to believe, but Caitlyn has a true shot at returning the gemstone." Jayce claimed, as he walked closer to Mel with confusion in his voice.

"I heard your entire conversation with Caitlyn yesterday. I overheard your plan. And although I think it's a decent plan, I can't help but realize that you made that decision without the opinion of other council members..as council, we don't just act freely on what we personally want. We take votes, and hear the opinions of others." Mel explained to Jayce, as she stopped rummaging through her drawer, and focused on him instead.

Jayce shook his head in slight guilt as a result. "But why would you do that?" Jayce asked.

"Because Caitlyn is a civilian. We can't put civilians at risk. Now that we know of Silcos alleged empire, and Violets holding of the gemstone. I met with the other council members and we've decided that we're going to ask Caitlyn about Violet and Jinx. As well as Marcus about his meetings with this Silco character. We know they've been meeting, based on him telling us that Silco wants to meet. Now we just have to find out what this shimmer is." Mel said to Jayce, as she walked into the bathroom, and began getting dressed.

"She won't give you any informations about Vi..I think they've built some sort of connection. We just need to give them a little time to get back the gemstone." Jayce argued from the opposite side of the door.

"We don't give criminals time. And if Caitlyn isn't willing to give us any information, then she will surely suffer the consequences." Mel responded to Jayce. "You wanted to progress Piltover. Don't lose sight of that." She added, before Jayce quickly walked off with a hasty expression on his face.

Soon after, Mel and the other council members met in the council meeting room. Along with Marcus who stood before them. "You've had meetings with Silco right?" Mel said to Marcus, while all of the other council members watched him closely.

Marcus stared at Mel and the other council members in response. He looked severely stubborn. "I haven't." Marcus responded as the other council members looked at one another after his response.

"Then how did you know about him wanting to speak with us?" Cassandra questioned, as the others increased their focus on Marcus.

"My time in the Undercity, he noticed me as the head enforcer of Piltover. That led to him approaching me and telling me to relay that message to you. Afterwards, I asked around, and discovered his status in the area. I apologize for not telling you sooner." Marcus explained to the others. Their intense focus that they had on him, began to decrease after his response. "You know Caitlyn helped some criminals. I believe you should be asking her these questions." Marcus added on.

"Speaking of, where is Caitlyn and Jayce? They were supposed to be here weren't they?" Salo and Shoola both questioned, making the other council members more conscious of Caitlyn and Jayces lack of appearance.

Meanwhile, Jayce ran through topside, with Caitlyn who's dressed in an enforcer uniform, and Marcus name tag. Mask and all. "They're going to question you. If you don't answer, I don't know what they'll do." Jayce said to Caitlyn, while the two watched their every corner, the longer they continued making their way to the bridge.

"But didn't my mom make put in a good word for me?" Caitlyn questioned, while they continued running. "Yeah, but it wasn't easy. The other members of the council weren't too supportive of it. It's possible that they'll soon disregard your moms words regarding you. That's why you need to leave, and you must bring back that gemstone. If you do that, I'm sure they'll leave it alone." Jayce said to Caitlyn, before they made their way to the base of the bridge.

After running, the two were out of breath. They looked at one another in that state, before Caitlyn gave Jayce some words. "Thank you. I don't know how I'll repay you.." Caitlyn said to Jayce.

"No need..I've always been about the progression of Piltover. We've been so fixated on the magic and inventions, that we've been neglecting what else needs to be progressed. I see that now." Jayce responded to Caitlyn, with a hand placed on her shoulder, and a slight smile. "Let's just hope they don't find out that I snuck into Marcus room and stole his uniform and badge." Jayce said with a chuckle.

Caitlyn smiled underneath the mask in response. "Thank you." Caitlyn said, before running off in the enforcer gear. Jayce watched, as Caitlyn walked through the enforcers guarding the bridge without a single problem.

After making it to the Undercity, she took off the enforcer uniform that was given to her by Jayce, and put it towards a nearby alleway at the entrance of the Undercity. Afterwards, she made her way down into the lanes, where she walked into a clothing store.

"That aside, is it possible for you to find him and relay our message to him?" Mel questioned. "Are we really going to talk with this unknown man?" Hoskel added.

"It could be beneficial to know what he wants." Shoola mentioned.

"I can try." Marcus responded to Mel. "Good, tell him to come tomorrow. Anytime in the afternoon will do. We shall see what he wants to discuss." Mel said to Marcus, before allowing him to leave. Seconds after, Jayce came in right after him.

The other council members looked at Jayce, especially Mel who looked at him with confused eyes. "You're late." Mel acknowledged, as Jayce took his seat at the table.

"My apologies." Jayce responded back to Mel.

"Do you know where Caitlyn could be?" Cassandra asked with a worried tone. "Probably snuck off into the Undercity." Hoskel said nonchalanty. "Is that possible? We have atleast a dozen guards blocking the pathway between the two cities." Salo said. All while Mel watched Jayce closely. Jayce looked around at the other council members, without trying to seem to suspicious.

"Do you know where she may be Jayce?" Mel questioned. "No ma'am." Jayce quickly responded. After Jayce's response, Mel began to frown slightly.

"After we kicked Heimerdinger from the council, I was hoping that you would make up for his absence. You should know that lying to us would not be good for your position as council..." Mel said, before standing up, and walking towards the gigantic window that they can see all of Piltover from.

A slightly saddened and conflicted expression formed over her face, and Jayce noticed it. "However, I'll trust you." Mel said to Jayce, while Jayce continued watching her. His expression started to grow more guilty and conflicted, though he did a good job of hiding it.

Marcus walked up to the bridge, and stopped when he made his way to the group of enforcers standing in the middle. "Have you seen my uniform anywhere?" Marcus asked the other enforcers, who instantly look confused.

"We just saw you walk into the Undercity earlier. Uniform and mask." With such news, Marcus is more than confused.

Marcus looked away from the other enforcers, while being in deep thought. Suddenly his eyes widen, as if a thought came into his mind. "Caitlyn.." He muttered to himself. "Next time, make sure you see the face of the people that come in and out of here. As a matter of fact, take off your masks so I can see who you all are." Marcus ordered. The other enforcers quickly began taking off their masks.

"Yes sir." They all responded to Marcus.

A bit after, Caitlyn was now dressed in typical Undercity street wear. Her hair was a bit more messy, and her clothes were more roughed up. Though she still had her rifle. "Where could they be..?" Caitlyn questioned, before noticing Marcus walking through the Lanes, dressed in his enforcer uniform.

Caitlyn quickly came to the conclusion that Marcus must've found his uniform, along with an idea of who must've taken it. "Shit.." She turned around, and faked it as if she was talking to some of the other people around. While she waited for Marcus to pass her.

Her eyes widened with a bit of shock, once she heard footsteps approaching closely behind her. She continued glancing over her shoulder as the footsteps grew closer.

Fortunately for her, the person walked right past her. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves once she realized this. She slowly turned around, and realized that Marcus was walking off.

Quickly after, she walked up to one of the people in the Lanes. "Sorry to bother you, but do you know where Silco is?" Caitlyn asked someone.

"Not sure right now..but he's usually in The Last Drop." The civilian responded, making Caitlyn smile a bit. "Do you know the quickest way there?" Caitlyn questioned with a pleasant smile on her face.

Moments later, she approached The Last Drop. It was severely crowded and bright. Despite that, Caitlyn didn't let that distract her from entering in and looking for any evidence of Silcos shimmer production. "Where would he be..?" Caitlyn mumbled to herself from inside of the restaurant, as she looked around.

Because of how crowded it was, she had to brush past people, and walk a bit slower than usual. After continuing to search, she eventually noticed a doorway.

Not to long after, she walked through hallways and checked around her corners. Eventually, she noticed two guards standing at the end of a hallway, guarding a door.

After peeking around the corner, she quickly got back into cover, while taking a deep breath. She pulled out her rifle from behind her back, and messed with the magazine.

Afterwards, Caitlyn pointed her gun from around the corner, while aiming at both of the men. "Huh?" The men said in acknowledgement to the gun. After realizing it's someone trying to shoot them, they quickly tried to pull their weapons out. Unfortunately for them, they were too late. Caitlyn shot them with a tranquilizer extremely quick and accurate.

Caitlyn smirked, as the guards dropped to the floor. Quickly after, she dragged them into a nearby closet, before stuffing their unconscious bodies inside.

She then walked up to the door that the two were guarding, before slowly walking inside. There she saw a desk, along with blue prints and other information on them. She slowly closed the door behind herself, and sneakily approached the desk.

As she checked all of the paper on Silcos desk, she quickly started to realize what she saw. Mentions of Shimmer, writings of Zaun, and what Jinx was originally going to use the gemstone for. Even mentions of Marcus name, along with other members of the Undercity, such as Lucy or Sevika. "My lord.." She mumbled to herself, before she's interrupted by footsteps approaching closer and closer to the office she's inside of.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly searched around the room, before her eyes landed towards sturdy wooden planks hanging from the ceiling. "So, what did you want to discuss with me?" Silco said as he walked into the office, along with Marcus.

The two took their seats, while Caitlyn watched from above. She was sitting down on one of the wooden planks just above Silcos desk. She took this opportunity to start recording. "I talked with the council. They said they can meet with you tomorrow..however, they know about your shimmer production, and they suspect that you're tied to the recent attacks at Topside." Marcus informed Silco, as Silco nodded his head in response.

"Well..that Silver kid destroyed one of the main shimmer labs. It will take a long time to make up for the damages. That aside, how do they know of the shimmer?" Silco said, before questioning. All while Caitlyn continued watching and recording.

"I'm not sure..one of our recent enforcers, she goes by the name Caitlyn, was with Violet. Along with some green haired girl. Also, someone snuck in and acted as an enforcer. He helped Violet and the others escape once I found them." Marcus informed, and Silco eyes slowly widened.

"Yes..I didn't think of it at the time, but Silver did indeed have an enforcer uniform on when I captured him.." Silco said with widened eyes, before slowly standing up from his chair, and leaning into Marcus more. "It's possible that he acted as an enforcer, snuck in and heard the conversation between you and I, then relayed the message to this Caitlyn girl. Or she heard it from that damned Lucy." Silco said. "In which case, you need to be more careful.." Silco said in an almost threatening tone.

"I won't let it happen again..but, if you know where the gemstone is, or know where Jinx is, you should give it back soon.. They are on to you." Marcus suggested while looking back at Silco.

Silco slowly leaned away from Marcus, while managing to keep a close eye on him. "Speaking of..Jinx has left me. Yeah, Silver, Lucy, Violet, and even Cailtyn are trying to corrupt her more than she already is. Make her more violent while trying to hurt the Topside. if you truly want to prevent war, then you should inform the council of them. I'll tell you how Silver looks, and I'm sure you can handle the rest." As Silco said those words, Caitlyns eyes widened with shock and anger.

Marcus looked around in a hesitant manner for a few seconds. Silco continued watching him, and before long, Marcus agreed. "You realize doing this, will likely cause the council to order even more troops down here, in search of Caitlyn and the others."Marcus informed Silco.

"It's worth it to get them away once and for all." Silco responded. Afterwards, Marcus left, while Caitlyn sat in deep thought.

Not too long after, Marcus made his way back to the Topside. At this point in time, Caitlyn was going to shoot Silco in the neck with a tranquilizer, but she was interrupted by Silcos door exploding with a pink and green smoke accompanied by it.

Silco fell down to the ground, while Caitlyn watched in shock, as she waited to see who would come from the smoke. As footsteps approached closer and closer to the room, Silco continued coughing as he stared towards the direction of the exploded door.

Both Caitlyn and Silcos eyes widened once they saw who walked through the door.

Meanwhile, in the Topside, Marcus informed the council members of his talk with Silco. He mentioned how Silco would be willing to talk with them, as well as Silver, and Lucys unlawful actions. And lastly, how he believed Caitlyn used his uniform to sneak into the Undercity. "Is this true..did this Silver person truly beat you and take your uniform?" Mel asked Jacob, the person who Silver stole the uniform from.

"That's correct. I went to check and see who was following us. After that, he beat me and took my uniform." Jacob explained to Mel and the other enforcers. Jayce continued looking a bit guilty, as the conversation went down.

"So that's two criminals that Caitlyn worked with. It's possible that this Lucy girl also had her fair share of criminal actions." Shoola acknowledged to the rest of the council.

"Why would Caitlyn be around these people.." Cassandra asked herself in an almost saddened way, as Jayce and Mel made eye contact with one another.

"Send as many enforcers to the Undercity as possible. Find Silver, Lucy, Violet, and even Caitlyn. Detain them. And if you find Jinx or the gemstone, bring those here as well." Mel said to Marcus and Jacob, before Cassandra quickly interrupted by standing up.

"Caitlyn? Why her? She's a good girl, she doesn't need to be detained." Cassandra argued to the rest of the council. Though it was obvious that no one took her side.

"She ran with someone who beat up one of our enforcers..I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but we can't ignore it anymore." Mel responded to Cassandra, leaving her practically speechless. Afterwards, Mel looked towards the rest of the council with a question. "Does anyone objectV"

Feeling defeated, Cassandra took her seat. While Jayce looked down at the table in deep thought. "You know your orders." Mel said to Marcus, who nodded his head in response.

Afterwards, Marcus, and atleast one hundred other enforcers marched through the Topside. They marched on their way into the Undercity, in search of Silver and the others.