Chapter 15

It had been five hours since their eventful entrance into the region of Astrovale. In which time Tenya had been able to exchange the currency he preserved for Aspeuean credits, and journeyed roughly three hours east to their final destination. The unit stopped at the cheapest affordable motel in their vicinity and proceeded to enter the lackluster apartment. The ParkGold Motel, a title that was not the least bit apropos.

The sun had completely set, giving way to shattered light bulbs and flickering fluorescent ceiling beams. Once the entrance behind them closed, scarcely anyone had the vigor to set down their belongings. Bakugou and Denki had collapsed onto the elastic clickity cots while Tenya, being the most dependable of the bunch, had brought sufficient sheets for himself and Izuku to doze in.

Tension emerged after every recounting of the plan, although Tenya claims that the relationship he had cultivated with his brothers Tensei and Tento was sturdy. All others focused on the cautionary advice given to them by their sporadic ally Mei Hatsume. Venturing to the navy, where soldiers and militia alike could be perusing them was a perilous idea indeed, though no other option presented itself.

Izuku contemplated the state of all that traveled with him. It was originally Tenya and he that were assumed to travel together. Now they had introduced Denki to the fray. A child mentally, placed under hazardous circumstances with the whole might of the Aspeuean regime after him. Bakugou too was a victim of his carelessness, putting himself into harm's way to aid a complete stranger, one that had led him into an enormous quarrel with the government he initially seeked employment from.

He laid there gazing at the chipped and moldy ceiling. A knot of guilt had developed within Izuku, one that only grew as his thoughts drew on. Nausea, coupled with anxiety, often found its way to him, leaving him bitter and sleep deprived. The dream he had initially sought for had manifested into a nightmare, the life of a fugitive was one that Izuku would not wish upon his worst enemy. A melancholy sigh left his lips, as he stretched his hand towards his right grasping AC in his hands. The lilac lens that protruded from the center suddenly ignited gazing into his soul once more.

"What do you think AC? You think we'll be able to make it here? We can't count on you every time to get us out of a pickle, now can we?" A chuckle followed the comment, though a waft of sadness still resided. AC produced another one of his alien hums, blasting air from the groves on his hide, tapping on Izuku forehead in a familiarly spirited custom.

"Ok stop that, you know I bruise easy", he said gleefully as he clutched the ball once more, bringing it to eye level. How is it, Izuku pondered, that a mute machine could prove to be such rich company.

"AC you have all the answers, don't you? Just tell me where to go, tell me what to do." A moment passed in quiet, from a distance Izuku could hear the hum of Kaminari's familiar snores. Just as Izuku was about to lay AC on the ground and drift into slumber, the lilac lens that had fixed itself on him just moments ago had gone completely dark, though the lens remained open. Izuku raised a single eyebrow in an inquisitive fashion, having never seen something like that displayed. Suddenly the lens illuminated once more, though no purple light blinded Izuku as was expected. Instead the display exhibited moving pictures, much like a film. Izuku eyes began to widen, astonished once more by the technological features this machine possessed.

"I didn't know you were capable of moving picutres, you don't even have antennas or anything", Izuku jested once more. His chuckle slowly subsided as he viewed the screen intently. The film appeared to have been from AC's point of view. Half the picture was obstructed by what appeared to be a leather flap, while the other half displayed only blurring motions and steel beams rushing past the first-person perspective. With eyes that were still fixated on the screen ahead, Izuku flailed his arm to the left, striking Tenya on the jaw and rousing him to consciousness.

"Izuku, what the hell was that for?" Tenya protested groggily.

"Dude you have to see this, I think AC is showing me something important." Tenya woozily crawled over to Izuku plot, his eyes quickly widened in astonishment at the picture being displayed. Though the volume was soft one could hear the faint roar of a motor engine, accompanied by the screeching of rubber tires. For several moments this went on, though the outlook had abruptly changed as the motorist hit what was most likely a pothole. A forearm suddenly appeared into view, griping the throttle with a force that made the already pale hands of the motorist a snow-white in their completion.

"Any idea what's going on?" Whispered Izuku, still very preoccupied with the screen in front of him.

"No clue," replied Tenya. The swerving and maneuvering continued for another minute, as the hum of machinery grew louder. Without warning the frame shifted once more, the monitor shook violently while the motion drew to a close. A noise similar to that of a steam engine tumbling down a mountain thundered from the auditory system, taking both Izuku and Tenya by surprise.

"Hey Turd-Blossoms! Some of us are trying to get some sleep over here", Bakugou grumbled from the neighboring room, the sound of Denki's snores remained unceasing. Izuku drew the display closer so that it was mere inches away from Tenya and him. For a moment blackness enveloped the screen, followed by a persona appearing in the frame. The camera was withdrawn from what was now confirmed as a leather bag. The motorist suddenly appeared on screen. The girl appeared to be a young adult; injured gravely from the crash.

"Oh my who is that?" asked Tenya absolutely transfixed. Izuku shushed him, attempting to gather as much information as he could from the film display. The woman in question was blond, with sapphire eyes and stunning features. Had it not been for the wounds inflicted upon crashing, Izuku would have deemed her the mirror of perfection. A wallop of pity tore through his sides as he witnessed the wounded adolescent grown in pain.

With a distressed appearance the battered figure lifted the object into the compartment. Despite her many injuries, a gorgeous smile was plastered on her face as she strenuously mashed the levers and dials on a platform of some kind. A moment later, all life disappeared from the picture, as the camera shot up vertically, terminating the film. Izuku and Tenya were both in stunned silence, lay waiting for more information to be given, only to be left with the lilac lens returning to its original color once more. A sigh of resentment tore from Izuku, having been left with more questions than answers.

"Bakugou, Denki get up, something important just happened." While Izuku jogged Denki awake AC followed suit, rousing Bakugou with nudges to the head and chest. Bakugou awoke with a fury.

"AC if you touch me one more time, I'm throwing you into a trash compactor", he said angerly.

"No Bakugou really. This is serious get up," Izuku rebuked. Ultimately Bakugou stood, as did Denki through mumbled cusses and yawns. All four members congregated in the largest of the two motel rooms, AC was placed at the center of the huddle. Through drowsy expression's and irritated audience Izuku recounted the events that had occurred, leaving no detail astray. Once all had been caught up to speed their expressions changed only slightly indicating a feeble interest in the matter.

"I mean it's cool that AC's part TV and all, but what's the recording have to do with us?" asked Denki impatiently.

"Kaminari, all I asked AC was what we were really doing here, here in Astrovale," replied Izuku.

"Ya, we're obviously here to find a job obviously. To make enough credits to move out of our cardboard boxes and all that," Bakugou replied.

"Well that's obviously not what AC is here for. He obviously came from somewhere, and I think he originally belonged to that girl in the video. I've been dying to find out what exactly AC is, and she might actually have some answers. Maybe she's somewhere here, in Aspeu", said Izuku optimistically.

"Was she pretty? Is that it is Izuku?" replied Denki mockingly whilst cocking an eyebrow.

"That's not point Kaminari, get your head out of your ass", snapped Izuku.

"It's a shame really, you wouldn't want to make Ochaco jealous now would you?" Kaminari pressed on, taking his rightful role as the needless instigator.

"Izuku we cannot afford to get side tracked. Think about Shanta and Yoroi. You want to see them again no? Well that means profiting here so we can give them a better life. That's what we're here for. Nothing else matters," Tenya said supportively, firmly clasping Izuku shoulder.

"Yeah and I need credits ASAP if I'm finally going to get my arm fixed. Do you know what it's like walking around with a dead limb?" Denki asked rhetorically.

"Hey, I'm not saying we need to go on a random goose chase right away ok? I'm just saying we need to keep this in mind, follow some leads if ever we get any. I'm not saying it's top priority but finding out more about her, and AC is still important to me", he said defensively.

"Man, this thing is just a machine not a real person, why are you treating it like a pet whose lost it's owner?" Replied Bakugou, growing more irritated as the conversation drew on.

"He's more than just a machine Bakugou, he has a conscious. And I think your forgetting that this machine, as saved our asses multiple times over the course of this trip", Izuku replied firmly.

"Yeah, well he was also the one that got us in all trouble to begin with!" Ok let me try something", Bakugou said, veering his head towards the orb. "AC, where do you come from?" The machine remained motionless; its lens fixated on Bakugou without response.

"It can't speak dip-shit, you need to ask him yes or no questions", said Izuku. Bakugou glared at him menacingly before prolonging his investigation.

"Well in that case… AC, do you originally come from Aspeu? Blink once for yes and twice for no", he enquired in a slow and careful tone. The golden globe replied, confirming with two distinct closings of its lens.

"And there's your answer. He's not even from here, and neither is the girl in the video. Deal with it Midoriya, you're not going to find any answers here, that's just the reality", said Bakugou unfeelingly. Izuku conceded, realizing the fault in his logic, and the futility of finding the true home of his alien friend.

"Ok I get it, it'll just have to wait for another time", Izuku replied discontentedly.

"We should all get back to sleep, we got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Let's hope the Navy doesn't immediately detain us the minute we get to that port", said Bakugou assertively.

"Tenya, all I'm saying is that your brothers better know what they're doing," Denki said providing a nervous chuckle.