When they were little, still living out of the basement of The Last Drop, Vander had been their alarm clock. Getting them out of bed so they could help with chores or go do odd jobs around the Lanes to make some extra money on the side. Once they'd gotten a little older one of the first thing's Ekko and Powder ever made were crude scrap metal alarm clocks everyone could use so they didn't have to rely on Vander or whoever woke up first. But today was different. Today it was the alarm of an actual proper, paid for with money alarm clock that broke the silence of the room, crying put with the only voice it had until it was swiftly and abruptly shut off by a callused hand.

A part of Vi wanted to just roll back over, pull the sheets up over her head and fall back asleep. She'd had hardly slept at all last night, so no one would be blame her for wanting some more rest on this chilly fall day. But that wasn't an option. Not on this particular morning.

Her little sister had always been a genius, there was never any doubt in Vi's mind when it to Powder's intellect and area of expertise. But even then, it came as a massive shock to then entire family when Powder got a letter in the mail. A crisp tan envelope, bearing the sigil of the great University of Piltover. The home to many of Runeterra's most gifted minds, or so they loved to claim, constantly boating about just how smart, just how superior they were to everyone else.

At first she thought it some cruel prank, something like this had to be just too good to be true. It was just a slap in her sister's face and a reminder to everyone that Piltover would never accept them as anything but their inferiors.

But then they called the number at the bottom of the letter, and someone actually answered on the other end. It wasn't a mistake or a mean joke. It was a real, genuine invitation to one of the best institutions on the planet. As far as Vi knew her sister might be one of the first Zaunties in history to be given such an offer. And as far as she was concerned no one deserved it more then Pow Pow.

Finally deciding to start moving after starring up at the ceiling of her drab room Vi kicked off her blankets and rolled out of bed. Heading over to her closest she threw on a pair of faded jeans, a random muscle T and a mismatched pair of socks before she stepped out of her room and into the short hallway that connected the kitchen and living room to the rest of their small apartment.

From their share of the money they'd made robbing that apartment some six years ago she and Powder had been able to find a place of their own, on the Piltover side of the river. Neither of them were happy with this, especially since they were limited to the rundown, poorer section of the city where those who'd been able to move up from Zaun were forced to live. But it was a requirement if Powder wanted to attend the academy, so the sisters didn't exactly have much of a choice. On top of that rent was outrageously expensive, probably because most Topsider's had so much money they didn't know what to do with. When you're wiping your ass with $100 bills what's a little more rent money right?

The hallway that connected her room to the rest of the apartment was much like the rest of their place. Walls painted a hideous grey, crisscrossed with cracks and more then a few spots had been patched with plaster and newer sections of drywall that stuck out like a sore thumb. The next door down the hall was the bathroom, and on the other side of it was Powder's, the door to which had been decorated with a hazmat sticker and 'Do Not Enter' tape. For a split second Vi had just assumed her sister was still in bed and had hoped for just that. Janna knows that Powder never got enough sleep. She was also so focused on her inventions and gadgets and there'd been times where she'd have gone without food or sleep if Vi or someone else hadn't dragged her away from her work.

Unfortunately for the pink haired brawler she could see light coming out from under her sister's door, telling her that Powder had already been up for a while and more than likely didn't get as much sleep as she should for her first day.

Wonderful

Doing nothing to stop the sigh that escaped her lips she pushed open the door and stepped through the doorway, immediately having to blink as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. Sitting there, hunched over a metal table that had been shoved against the wall was a skinny blue haired girl. Dressed in a pair of faded jeans that had been ripped at the ankles to expose long black socks, and a short sleeve grey shirt that let everyone see just how skinny her arms were. Standing behind her Vi could see the leather strap of her sister's goggles running across the back of her head. Claggor's old pair that he'd outgrown.

"Powder"

There was no reply. In the silence of the room Vi could see Powder's head bobbing side to side, one foot tapping the floor as she worked on whatever it was she had in her hands. Scooping up a discarded shirt off of the floor she chucked it underhand at her younger sibling, watching it hit Powder in the back of the head.

"Hey! What the hell Vi you could have made me mess up the wiring!" Her younger sister whined as she set something metallic down on the table. Spinning her chair around as she peeled the shirt off and threw it back the way it came. Vi had seen the counter attack coming a mile away and lazily wacked the flying cloth out of the way.

"Good morning to you to" A shit eating grin spread across her face as she stepped over to Powder's makeshift workbench. It was always covered in versions gadgets and gizmos, all in various stages of assembly.

When she was younger Powder had been focused on making bombs, filled them with nails or harmless paint and confetti. Recently however her focus had shifted to prosthetics. Making limbs of metal and wire, replacement arms and legs meant for the people who'd lost them working in the factors and the mines that were the bedrock of the Undercities economy, the legal side of it anyways. Safety standards were all but nonexistent, so seeing a man, woman or even child walking around missing an arm or a leg wasn't an uncommon sight. And it was one Powder had been trying to fix.

It was these very prosthetics that had supposedly gotten the attention of the nerds and eggheads Topside. Seeing how Powder received her letter not long after she started getting her limbs out the people in the Lanes who needed them. She'd had plans for getting them out to every layer of the Undercity, but she was just one woman. She could only make so many, and Ekko had been busy with his own inventions and ideas, so he wasn't exactly able to help right now.

"You're just lucky I didn't mess anything up" Powder mumbled as she turned back around in her chair, examining the wiring of a left arm that was almost finished.

Vi felt a tinge of guilt about the shirt now. She knew better then anyone how much her sister's inventions meant to her, but she didn't dwell on it. No harm had been done after all. Plus this is what Powder gets for not getting enough sleep. "You going to bring one of these in to show those professors how great you are?" She asked, bending over a little to close the gap between them.

"I thought about it, but the Enforcer's would probably take it from me, spouting some shit about needing to make sure it's not a weapon" Her sister sighed, shoulders sagging as she reached down to flip close a small panel that housed the wires she'd been adjusting. "I doubt they'd even let me in the front door without making me stop and answer their dumb questions"

"Probably not" Vi had to agree, but for her sister's sake hoped there wouldn't be that many Enforcers at the academy. It was in the safest part of Piltover after all. There shouldn't be a reason for the place to be swarming with those jackbooted thugs. "They'll just see someone who's obviously not form Topside and assume the worst" She frowned as the words left her mouth. Reinforcing the idea wasn't going to do Powder any good. She needed to change the subject.

"But enough about that......." Smooth Vi, very subtle there. "You ready to show off that big brain of yours? Gonna hang out with all those other nerds and argue about which screwdriver is the best?"

"Phillips is the best screwdriver out there, obviosity" Powder stated it is a mater to fact, grinning confidently as Vi looked over at small clock that hung on the wall above the workbench. It read 06:15. Why her baby sister preferred 24 hour clocks she'd never understand.

"You're just a weirdo Pow. What time do you have to be out of here?"

"I'm your weirdo, and the gates open at seven so I should be heading out there soon" Powder's old chair creaking as she stood up.  It was her favorite chair, hauled all the way up here from the Lanes when they moved in. It was covered in scratches and dents, the original white paint having long since flacked away., exposing the warped and cracked wood exposed. It was beaten to all hell and quite the eye sore, and she loved it. Pushing her chair in she walked into her small, sparsely filled closet to look over the very small collection of clothes she owned.

"Want me to come with?" For her question the shirt from earlier hit Vi in the face.

"I'm not a kid , I'm pretty sure I can walk there myself. And what's the fuss anyhow? I'm out by myself all the time in the Lanes. Topside'll be a walk in the park"

Vi pulled the shirt off and held up two fingers despite the fact her sister still had her back to her. "One, because it's Dad's turf and they'd have to be either stupid or suicidal to try and fuck with any of us. And Two: You carry a gun with you. Neither of those apply here"

"I'll be fine, now can you get out so I can change?"

"Okay okay Smartypants" Vi took the hint and walked over to the door, only to stop as her hand wrapped around the doorknob. Looking back at Powder she gave her favorite sibling a shit eating grin. "You know.....if you wear just your bikini maybe you can finally get a girlfriend"

"Oh my god Violet get out!"

----

"This is bullshit"

"Kiramman, language"

Caitlyn made no attempt to hide the sigh that escaped her lips before they fell down into a frown, those bright blue eyes glued to the woman next to her. The older  woman with black hair and stands of grey, clad in the uniform of an Enforcer. Identical to the one she was wearing.

Sheriff Grayson stood tall and proud just inside the gates of the University of Piltover, nursing a mug of piping hot coffee that was helping her ward off the morning chill.

"I'm sorry but you know it's true. I worked myself to the bone through the academy. I was at the top of my class. I did great in every test, every practical exam. It's been my dream and my goal to be an Enforce since I was little. But then my mother has to pull some strings, call in political favors. I should be out there helping people, making a difference. Not playing security guard for one of the safest buildings in all of Piltover"

Caitlyn was furious, and she was tired of keeping it all under wraps. She'd busted her ass for months in the academy, she'd been at the top of her class, had stellar reviews from her proctors. But none of that meant anything when her own mother went behind her back and got her stationed here all because she thought being an officer was beneath her daughter. All because her last name was Kiramman.

"Your mother is on the council. She's my boss, even if I tried to get you reassigned it be an uphill battle" Grayson took another sip of her coffee and watched Caitlyn from the corner of her eye. The younger officer let out a huff of what sounded like dissatisfaction and reached up, readjusting her had that she already been perfect. "But it might only be for one semester, by then I might be able to convince her how much of a waste it is to keep you here"

Well that was something, a bit of hope to latch onto that her entire career might not be confided to the grounds of the University. Breathing a little easier now Caitlyn turned her attention to the front grounds of the school. A walkway stressed across the well manacled lawn, splitting it in half and connected the gate's archway with the front doors of the university. Halfway between them and roughly five feet in front of Caitlyn a fountain had been build, atop stood statue of Stanwick Padidly, one of the University's founding members. But that's all Caitlyn really knew about the man.

The front gate's themselves had opened up right at 7:00am, and already there was a handful of students mingling in the front courtyard, huddled in small groups comparing their schedules or discussing which professor they were looking forward to the most. Every last one of them were all dressed in some of the best clothes money could buy. It was seen as a great privilege to attend the University and the student's attire reflected that. Well pressed and ironed suit jackets, form fitting vests and patching suit pants and skirts. All adorned with gold and silver buttons polished to a shine. There was no official uniform for the academy, but that didn't stop everyone from looking like that just got down with a photoshoot. Everyone save for one girl with bright blue hair that just stepped through the great arches of brass and iron at the front gates.

She didn't have a blazer bearing the symbol of one of the noble houses, she wasn't wearing a suit jacket or even a vest. No fine garments or anything even close to what everyone else was wearing. Instead, steel toed boots clicked against the well maintained walkway, and in the place of suit pants or a skirt she wore a pair of faded tan overalls. Beneath the overalls the girl wore a long-sleeved black shirt, while a pair of goggles sat atop her brow and her backpack hung off her should by a single strap. That bright blue hair that had initially caught Caitlyn's attention was in a single long braid that reached down to her shoulders, held together by a few brass clips while her long bangs hung over the right side of her face, nearly reaching her chin. This girl was pale, so pale, almost as if she'd never stepped out into the sun until today. All of this just screamed one word: Undercity.

Now Caitlyn was grateful Grayson had come with her instead of Marcus. The man man wore his disdain for the people from below on his chest for all the world to see, right next to his Enforcer badge.

"Powder!"

Grayson suddenly calling out snapped Caitlyn back to the present and she watched the girl stop in her tracks, and the younger officer's keen eyes saw her body tense up as she slowly turned to look back over her shoulders at them with the brightest blue eye's she'd ever seen.

"Grayson"

Piltover's sheriff only smiled at first, and took another sip of her coffee as the girl apparently named Powder turned to face them head on. Scrawny hands disappearing into her overall pockets.

These two knew each other Caitlyn noted. At least well enough to be on a named biases anyways, and everyone Caitlyn knew who called her Grayson and not sheriff was a very short list, and it defiantly didn't include anyone from the Undercity. Granted Caitlyn had never been on the other side of the river, they wouldn't let her. Just like no one ever wanted to answer all the questions she had about Piltover's twin. So she had no idea what they called her while she was out on patrols trying to keep the streets safe.

Grayson offered her a hint of a smile while Powder's face was a mix of unease and something Caitlyn couldn't entirely make out, before it quickly fell into a blank expression. "I always knew you were a bright kid, it's good to see you here"

Powder chuckled, but the sound that left her lips was almost hallow, devoid of any joy. "Oh I'm sure you're all just so glad to see someone like me here" As she spoke her head jerked to the side, and Caitlyn followed her gaze to one of the students who'd been sitting on a nearby bench. He must have watching Powder as she walked in, because as soon as Powder starred him down his dropped into the textbook in his hands, pretending to read. Not that it fooled anyone. Grayson opened her mouth to try and say something but Powder continued. "Look........can you just point me in the direction of the head office? They didn't let me pick my courses so now I've got to go get my scheduled or whatever"

They didn't let her pick her classes? That must have been a mistake. Maybe Powder just lost the form they sent out?

"I can show you the way" Caitlyn offered the younger girl a smile as she spoke. She didn't want to be here, but that didn't mean she couldn't still do her job and help people, even if it was something as mundane as this. It always felt good to lend a hand. That's half the reason she became an Enforcer in the first place.

Those bright blue eyes snapped onto her, starring at her. Her lips were slightly parted, letting Caitlin see the tinniest gap between her front teen. She had to admit, this girl was kinda cute.

Then those eyes moved down, fixated on her Enforcer badge before snapping back up to hold Caitlyn's gaze. "What? No I just need directions"

"You didn't get your scheduled, so you probably don't have the map they give to first years either. Right?" Powder slowly shook her head. "The University's a big place, just let me walk you to the front office, then you can get your map and your schedule" She stepped away from Grayson and closer to Powder only for the later took a step back. Maintaining the distance between them as she looked away.

Even with her head turned Caitlyn could see her brow furrow as the pale girl let out a reluctant "Fine"

"Don't worry, it's not too far" It was clear as day Powder wasn't happy about this, not that Caitlyn could blame her. She'd be upset too if the University didn't send her everything she'd need for her first year. With a quick nod to her boss Caitlyn left the Sheriff by the fountain lead the way inside, bright artificial lights replacing the morning sun as their shadows were cast down the long hallway. To say that Piltover's University was a big place would have been a massive understatement. Nearly four-hundred rooms spread across three floors, dozens of courses taught by just as many professor's and instructors. Thousands of students from all across Runeterra. The vast majority were from Piltover, but they still had plenty from Ionia and Targon, even a few from Demacia, Noxus and the Freljord. And now they even have a girl from across the river.

"So.....how do you and Grayson know each other?" She asked out of genuine curiosity. This was also a chance to potentially learn at least something about the Undercity. She looked over at the shorter blue haired girl as she rounded the first corner, passing by a row of lockers on her right while on her left was an elevator and a staircase leading to the second floor.

Powder was quite for a moment, looking around at everything she could that wasn't the enforcer, until she eventually meet Caitlyn's gaze for the briefest of seconds. Her mouth seemingly stuck in a permanent frown for the time being. "Everyone down there knows the sheriff"

Those four words was her answer, and it wasn't even a helpful one. But she wasn't going to push the topic and stayed quite as she lead Powder the rest of the way to the head office. "It's right through that door there, someone at the front desk should be able to help you out" Caitlyn said, pointing to a large wooden door that was heavier alot then need to be. There was a large window next to said door, and looking through Caitlyn could see two of the University's secretaries already busy at work on their typewriters. Even they were well dressed, wearing matching uniforms like most of the facility did. A dark blue suit jacket and matching pants, with a white undershirt and a golden tie. The University's logo embroidered on their chests.

Without a word Powder quickly slipped by the rookie enforcer and into the office, having to use what little body weight she had to pull open that stupidly heavy door before disappearing behind it. Caitlyn didn't want to just stare while the girl resolved her problem, so she leaned back against the wall, staring at a poster on the opposite wall that and pretended it was interesting to read.

Closing her eyes she let out another sigh and thought about what Grayson had said. If the Sheriff was able to get her reassigned  then she'd only have to be here for one school year. Yes it was still a huge waste of her time, but it was better then being trapped here all because mother hadn't  agreed with her choice of career. And she had to admit, there were worse placed she could have ended up, like being shipped out to Stillwater to watch over the worst criminals from the Twin cities, or stuck behind a desk doing paperwork from dawn till dusk. She shuddered at just the thought of either role.

She looked back at the door as it swung open and watched as Powder stepped back out into the hall. Holding  a map of the school's layout in one hand and what looked like her schedule in the other. Somehow looking even more frustrated then before. "Were you able to get it all sorted out?"

"Somehow"

This girl seemed to be fond of one vague, one word answers. Caitlyn also knew she wanted to be left alone, the Enforcer could tell that much just by her body language. She'd been tense since she walked through the gates, and had only gotten worse once Grayson called out to her. Removing herself from  the wall Caitlyn offered her one last small smile. "Well I hope you enjoy your time here at the University Powder. And welcome to Piltover"

----

The Enforcer's footsteps got quitter and quitter until vanishing entirely as she rounded the corner, leaving Powder alone in the wide immaculate hallway. The white tiles beneath her feet looked so clean you could eat off of them. Precious metals had been shaped into the likeness of Topsides greatest scholars and inventors, and some of the finest paintings Powder had ever seen decorated the walls. It was all a show of Piltover's wealth and greatness. A reminder of everything her home was not. Her people lived in squalor down below, suffering at the hands of Enforcers and Chembarons alike. All while everyone up here grew fat and complacent, everything they ever needed just handed over on a silver platter!

"Janna be praised, thought she'd never leave" She muttered to herself. It was bad enough that shde'd have to spend her days with all the entitled, snobby and selfish brats of Topisde, but now she had to stay on the lookout for those damn thugs? Why were they even here! And why had that tried to be so friendly? Powder figured it's because she didn't know she was from the other side of the bridge. Once that Piltie found out she'd be no beter then Marcus.

 Looking down at the papers in her hands. One a map of the Univeristy, the other the schedule they'd made for her without her having a say in any of it. All because she was from the Undercity. All because she was lesser then them. Inferior, barely tolerated gutter trash that didn't deserve to breath the same clean air they so freely enjoyed.

Swallowing eighteens year's worth of anger Powder took a slow deep breath. Holding it for a movement before letting it out. Lashing out at her peoples' oppressors wasn't going to fix any of their problems, it was a hard lesson Vander had instilled in  his kids. What she needed to do was learn everything she could from this place, find a way to copy or even steal their technology and bring it back down into the canyon to help raise the Undercity up out of the cesspit Topside had left it in. With this in mind the young inventor tried to focus on finding her first class of the day. History. Thankfully it didn't take her long to find the classroom, seeing as from the front office all she just had to backtrack a little, take a left instead of a right at the first intersection in the hallway, and her destination was next to another set of stairs on her right. This place was still massive, but at least she'd make it to her first course without getting hopelessly lost.

A few minutes later she stepped through the doorway to find it empty. Not even the teacher was here, just rows of ornate desks spread out, each with a massive textbook resting atop it. Maybe she was a little too early? Maybe everyone was still out mingling in the hallways and the courtyard? Now she just has to figure out where to sit, and at first she thought about just plopping her butt down in the back of the class. But if it she sat in the front row then everyone would have to see her. Everyone would have to look at the Trencher who managed to claw and work her way into their precious University. Grinning ear to ear she skipped over to the end of the row, sitting down at the desk next to the window. The book in front of her was big, with a large leather backed cover. "The Founding and History of the Nations of Runeterra" She read the name aloud. Well, Powder had certainly found books with worse names. Most of them ending up at Benzo's resale shop or one of the massive piles of garbage and trash that littered the Lanes.

Dropping her backpack at her feet she turned the front cover and started to briefly flip through the first few pages, skimming them just to try and get an idea of everything the book covered. She'd only managed to read down about a quarter of the second page when something caught her ear. It was coming from the hallway, steadily getting closer and a little louder as Powder looked over at the doorway. 

Humming, someone was humming. Powder didn't even have time to try and figure out if she knew melody before the person humming walked right into the classroom. It was a girl, who like everyone else Powder had seen so far was wearing those fancy, stupidly expensive clothes Topsiders loved so much. She was wearing a blazer, clad in Piltover's colors save for the bright pink tie that matched her hair. Powder had seen plenty of wacky, silly and over the top things growing up in the Undercity, but before today she didn't think anyone could have THAT much hair. It fallowed behind the girl like a tidal wave of pinkness. It was fluffy, reaching out to the girl's shoulders and all the way down to her ass. 

Her humming stopped when she saw Powder sitting there, and for a moment the room went silent. Blue eyes starring into blue eyes, before Pinky flashed her a smile. "Oh hey there! Wanted to get here early too huh?" She asked in a chipper, bubbly tone, deciding to sit down right next to Powder despite being able to pick literally anywhere else.

"Something like that" Powder told her, turning her attention back to the page she'd been reading. Somewhere she thought saw.....Yes there it was! Chapter 36: Zaun. As far as Powder was aware, no one in the Undercity really knew much about their history further back then just a few generations. How could they when so much of their time had to be focused on simply surviving the present. The irony that she'd be learning about her home while in Piltover wasn't lost on her. Everything in the book was probably twisted to paint Topside in a better light then it had any right to be, but that was something she figured she could stomach it if they every got there. Or who knows, maybe they'll just conveniently skip that chapter all together. That wouldn't surprise her either.

"I know history is one of the mandatory classes they made everyone take. So what brought you to the academy?" Pinky asked, that smile never leaving her lips. Resting her elbow on her desk Powder let her cheek fall into and rest on her palm as she looked back at the girl. 

"You first Pinkie, what brought you here?" Powder counter asked. This girl didn't immediately strike her as the sciencey type. Maybe she was here on some kind of scholarship thing like she was? That or the girl was just stupid rich. If that was the case she certainly dressed the part.

"Pinkie huh?" The girl chuckled, an almost infectious laugh filling he air. Her smile somehow widening as she brushed a hand through her bangs. "Well Blue I was born here in Piltover, and if my career doesn't take off like I'm hoping it does then an education is probably going to help whatever my back up plan is. So what are you here for?"

"That's smart" Powder said, closing the big ass text book in front of her with her free hand. "And I guess you can say I'm here on like an engineering scholarship or something?" She wasn't sure exactly what it be classified as, and Powder didn't really care to put in the work to find out either. She was here now, that's all that really mattered. Learn all she can, make the Undercity less of a dump. That was the plan.

"Oh really? so cool! What do you build?" Again Pinkie gave her a smile. It was warm and welcoming, with nothing but excitement in her eyes. Did Powder just find a puppy in human form? Or the one Topsider on Runeterra who's wasn't lodged up her own ass?

What did she build? When she was little she'd build bombs. Explosives packed with nails or sometimes paint. Weapons to protect her family. she had to help, needed to help. And now? Now she build limbs of iron and brass, crude but effective. All to make life in the Undercity just a little easier for the people forced to love under Piltover's long and oppressive shadow. And it wasn't going to stop there. She had grand ideas, plans half turned into schematics. Air purifiers and oxygen recyclers to suck away some of the smog and pollution, full on robots to replace the people slaving away in the mines like Vander and her father had done. 

What did she build? The answer to that was simple, and the words left Powder's mouth with pride as she returned the girl's smile. "I build whatever my people need, and one day I'm going to make something that puts the Undercity on the map. Just like the Hexgates did for Piltover"

Before Pinkie could get out a response they both looked over at the doorway. Watching as what must have been the rest of the class came pouring in, every last one of them dressed in fineries that probably cost more then her dad's bar or Benzo's shop. The last one in had to be the professor, seeing how she looked to be in her early thirties and closed the door behind her. Even without her heels she was tall, with black rimmed glasses that matched her hair, save for a red streak at the front.

It looks like class was now in session, and Powder had no idea what it or the rest of her day would bring.