Chapter 18

The wafts of storage must, and wisps of rat dropping were all that assaulted the nostrils of those that sought shelter in the basement. Shanta had devoted the majority of her time and willpower, keeping her eyes dry and her thoughts blank. She found herself currently buried in Hitoshi's chest, while Mandalay and Ochaco sat directly across, preaching words of consolation. The storage cellar of Mic's bar was a dreary place indeed, juxtaposing the lively gatherings that endlessly took place above. It also proved to be one of the safest sanctuaries in all of Galliedenn, given its obscure, trap door entrance.

The owner Mic sought out the safety of many others, as the gloomy walls of the cellar began to fill with more and more residents. Some were strangers to Shanta, others she knew quite well. Their only commonality, however, was the unbreaking silence that kept the commune safe. Every hour of their six hour stay, Mic staggered down the winding stairs to provide refreshments and water to the evacuees bellow, greeted each time with praise and worship. Thrice now, the stomping of neoprene soles and the soul shattering woofs of militant brutes could be easily registered from above.

All visitors demanded the resurgence of questionable citizens and enemies of Aspeu. Many highlighted the capture of one with distinguishably jade hair and fair skin, the prime description of one Shanta Midoriya. While most men would crack under the offences and intimidations being administered by those grunts, Mic did not- for he was unlike most men. It had been almost an hour now since the last surge of thugs and beasts came rushing into the tavern walls, and a faint peace now lay over its inhabitants. Some even began to whisper amongst one another, recounting the remarkable events that have unfold.

"This is the most interesting thing to have happened in this country in decades," said a faceless voice from behind a produce cart. While some hushed the man for his sudden outburst, many nodded in agreement. It was at that moment that Shanta once again felt comfortable voicing her concerns.

"Mandalay, Hitoshi, I want to thank you both again for getting us out of that makeshift custodial. I couldn't stand another minute in that cell," her words were heavy with gratitude.

"Honey, Shinso and I have been working construction together for the better part of a decade. Once he told me all about you, and how special you were, I couldn't just let you rot in there. No thanks necessary," Mandalay responded in soothing verses. Shanta rose her eyes once more, entranced by the man whom she owed everything. He met her beguiling gaze with his perpetually glazed eyes, solely issuing a wink in return. Her neck rose only slightly, planting a lush kiss on the cheek. He was a man of few words, but many actions.

"But right now, I need to find some way to get into contact with Izuku. All the green caps are after right now is the orb. All he has to do is hand it over, and I'm sure they'll release Yoroi, and get off our backs once and for all."

"They should have arrived at Aspeu by now, but we don't know where exactly they're residing." Ochaco expounded further.

"So, there's no way to send out a message via GAUNT," Hitoshi concluded. Shanta exhaled an incensed sigh, racking her brain for a possible solution to the dilemma at hand. The fact that her brother voyaged with Tenya, one of the most responsible men in Shanta's life, granted her some degree of comfort. However, Izuku traveling to Aspeu, a country whose government could perform such troubling acts as torture and annexing, disturbed her a great deal more.

"Is there any way I could maybe take a blimp to Aspeu, find Izuku and talk to him there?" she enquired hopefully.

"Shanta, like you said, we have no clue where Izuku is right now," Ochaco began. "Even if we did, you'd have to go through customs, and security once you touch down in Aspeu. And given the fact that all green caps and Aspeuean militants are after you and your brother as we speak, I don't think that's the best course of action. Believe me, there is nothing I'd like more than to see Izuku right now, but I don't think it's in the cards." Her words rung the harsh true, but were gentle, while she placed a comforting hand on hers. Shanta sighed defeatedly, unsure of how to proceed.

"Well I'm open to any other suggestions," she said, her tone bearing trails of desperation.

"I think the best course of action would be to wait it out. The storms of soldiers are becoming less and less frequent, and I'm not sure the Aspeuean administration is willing to spend any more time here in Galliedenn, considering the diplomatic backlash they'll have with the rest of Egrary. Once they ship out, it'll be safe to resurface once more, and from there you'll just have to wait until your brother contacts you," Mandalay offered as a probable resolution. She shot him a look of vexed bewilderment.

"So that's our best option, waiting around doing nothing? That's not a plan, that's just giving up. I'd rather risk imprisonment again than to wait around while my brother and grandfather are in danger." Afraid of re-joining, Mandalay sat in silence twiddling her thumbs. Shanta knew she should not have addressed her in that manner, given her status and age. But her mind was clouded with grander worries.

"You could maybe take a convey boat, hide in one of the storage tanks on board, but that will take you weeks. You won't survive the journey unless your friends with the crew, instead of just a stowaway." Ochaco's suggestion was one to consider, though the thought of waiting weeks for the slightest chance of reconnecting with her brother was severely off-putting. Before Ochaco could establish an additional suggestion, the patter of kicks on creaky wooden floors encompassed the facility once more. The sheet of silence coated all personnel once more.

Shanta anticipated the imitate squawks and coercions brought about by the green caps that plagued Galliedenn, though they were only met with faint conversation, barely audible from the cellar bellow. Mic's defensive tenor and flailing gestures were not brought about by these strangers, a fact that failed to comfort Shanta as she gripped Hitoshi's hand until her knuckles paled.

Minutes dragged by with no interruption, no snarls nor intimidations. Those hiding in the basement strained their ears, endeavoring to pick up any audio cues or phrases that would illuminate the foreigner's identity. This was done to no avail, as Mic went on with the casual conversation.

After ten or so minutes had passed, the floorboards once again groaned as the figures marched above. Tensions were high in the cellar, with most basement dwellers flinching at the sudden flicker of movement. Shanta felt the dreaded burn of alarm in her chest as footsteps slowly approached the entrance. Hitoshi nobly sat in front of Shanta, sheltering her slim form from sight with his larger mass. After moments of dreadful suspense, the basement doors swung open, instigating a yelp of fear from one resident bellow.

With their position now compromised, they were thankful to see Mic's jolly figure come into frame as he descended the spiraling stairs. Trotting to the center of the room he ran a hand through his golden mane, clasping his clammy palms right after.

"Yo Shanta," he said, able to identify the veiled girl from behind Hitoshi. "There are some men upstairs that want to talk to you, it's about your brother. I'm sure they're not Aspeuean military, so don't fret. They apparently have some info about him." That last dollop of information peaked Shanta's interest. She knew full well that this encounter was more likely than not a ruse, to drag Shanta out from hiding.

"Shanta you can't go out there. Like Mandalay said, we should wait it out until we're sure Aspeu's puppets are gone," said Hitoshi, agreeing with Shanta's judgments. Still, her instincts challenged her judgment. On the off chance that those stomping above her do have information regarding Izuku's whereabouts, she was required to comply. In addition, the enigmatic guests undoubtedly know of Shanta's location, for Mic would not have compromised it otherwise.

"They didn't sound like grunt soldiers," Shanta began. "And if they know anything about where my brother is, I can't just ignore it." Ochaco, Hitoshi, and Mandalay held on to their skepticism, shooting her looks of disbelief.

"What if they're telling the truth, and they actually do know where Izuku is? What if I refuse to comply, he gets lost in the shackles of government, and I never get to see him again. I'm not going to let that happen." The somber thought crossed Shanta's mind, as she chocked on her own words for a brief moment. She rested her gaze upon Mic, standing up right for the first time since concealment.

"Do you trust them Mic?" Shanta enquired with puckered ears. Mic stroked his combed stubble, pondering the conviction of these newfound visitors.

"Well, they do seem like strange folk, a little off putting once they start running their mouths. But it doesn't appear as though they have any malintent, and I should know, I read people for a living. I've been tending this bar for almost twenty-five years, you pick up a thing or two," he concluded, shrugging his shoulders while dimly chuckling, flashing rosy cheeks. Shanta nodded in response, unfastening her hand from Hitoshi's as she began her assent. Hitoshi began to protest, though Shanta placed a magnetic hand on his cheek, watching him with comforting eyes and a sly smile. He stopped dead in his tracks, reverting his somber gaze to the floorboards bellow.

She sauntered upstairs to await her fate. Coming into contact with the surface, her pupils burned slightly as her retina stressed to catch a glimpse of reality. Once her eyes had adjusted to the dim green light, she bore witness to two figures opposite her, standing behind the bar stand.

The two stared blankly and indifferently at her, their curious eyes divulged no emotion whatsoever. The duo wore matching garments of dull offseason colors, the bottom half of their faces were obscured by a dark mask. One sported a red scarf, stylized silver hair and ancient weaponry strapped to his belt. The other appeared much brawnier, wearing a jet black accompanied by a marron trench coat. The two man shared a commonality, the pigskin gauntlet on their right forearm, bearing a silver sickle as the insignia.

"Are you Shanta Midoriya?" queried one of the men. A moment's hesitation dragged by.

"Yes, are you with the army? Here to incarcerate me?" she replied with her feet and hips angled, ready to brawl at any moment's notice.

"No, as a matter of fact we are not very fond of the Aspeuean administration ourselves. We pertain to a different management, one who's goals differ greatly from those of Aspeu. We'd be happy to tell you more once you come with us." Her pulse accelerated once more at the thought of being hauled against her will by unknown men, here with an unknown cause. Setting her skepticism aside, it appeared as though these men held no ill will in their hearts, and would be willing to cooperate peacefully.

"Why can't we just talk here at Mic's? We have a cozy basement downstairs I'm sure you'd find quite accommodating," she snarked, instinctively sprinkling humor in her speech in an attempt to cox some sense of emotion from the strangers.

"It's not safe here," said the following bloke. "As I'm sure your aware, troops have been parading in and out of this establishment for quite some time, and they do not intend to rest soon. In fact, their routes indicate a new visitor sometime within the next half an hour. We're rather keen on you coming with us voluntarily, than being pried from here against your will."

Shanta considered herself a warm person, naïve to a fault and willing to see the best in all people. She was cognizant of this weakness, and aware that her eagerness to comply with the strangers may be her downfall. That being said she saw no other alternative, mindful of the fact that willingly journeying with unknown men, was far better than returning to the dreaded confines of another cell.

"I'm bringing a gun, and I'm taking three friends with me. That's the only way I'll go willingly, if that's alright with you." Though her figure and register were that of a juvenile, she assembled a grand amount of authority, a distinguishing feature between her and Izuku. They eyed one another deeply, as if speaking with one another telepathically. They carried a look of mild disbelief, stunned at the fact that she would be prepared to obey so voluntarily.

"Yes, that will be fine. Just please hurry before unwanted visitors arrive. We still have some ground to cover and I would rather preform that stroll deprived of gunfire, wouldn't you agree?" She repaid them with a hasty nod, treading downstairs to retrieve her fellow company, as well as the spare revolver Mic had stashed away under the floorboards. Before departing she gave Mic a bearhug, thanking him once again for being the hero her town deserved.

In the span of mere minutes, Shanta, her three companions and the two peculiar strangers departed through the backdoor of the tavern, walking brusquely through the town's lesser known avenues. In the everlasting heat of Galliedenn, the strangers still kept to their burly hide gowns, contesting the urge to collapse due to heat stroke, and showing an extreme amount of resolve.

"Alright, we're by your side, accompanying you to God knows where. Now tell us what you know about Izuku," Ochaco requested, jumping at the request even faster than Shanta. The two strangers looked at one another, raising their eyebrows while the globules of sweat glistened their skin. Shanta was rather good at reading people, unlike her older brother Izuku. From what she could gather from the strangers, while in their company for a brief amount of time, is that they were most likely secluded fellows. They were foot soldiers, following orders in a noble manner, leaving little room for humanity.

"A colleague of ours witnessed a green haired lad darting across the province of Astrovale, while a spheroid toy trialed by his side. He was also accompanied by three others, all appeared to be of adolescent age. Would you say this is an apt description of your brother?" An inner sigh of relief escaped the lungs of Shanta and Ochaco concurrently.

"Yeah, it couldn't get more apt then that. What else do you know?" Shanta responded.

"Not much else. Your willingness to come forward and accompany foreigners is not something you and him share. He has fallen under the keen eye of the law and remains a fugitive of the state. Individuals bound to our cause would have gladly harbored him and given him shelter. No attempt was made however, it stands certain he would have rejected all proposals."

Shanta swore under her breath, wanting to quarrel with him regarding the matter, but unable to, knowing full well her brother would resort to behavior such as that. Before they continued on their brisk pace away from the bar and through the smutty allies of Galliedenn, Hitoshi jogged to the head of the group, halting while forcing all others to break dead in their tracks.

"Alright, before we continue, we have to know who you people are, and who you work for. How is it that you know so much about us while we don't know squat about you?" Hitoshi enforced, granting the strangers no opportunity to evade the question.

"What would you like to know?"

"Well how about names, for a start?" Hitoshi said, throwing his arms, eyeing down the two men.

"You can call me Edgeshot, and this here is my comrade Crimson Riot." he terminated the conversation at that.

"Well, those names are quite… ostentatious," Mandalay remarked.

"We would rather not divulge our true identities, if that's alright with you?" Edgeshot retorted blankly.

"Yeah fine, who cares. Now tell us who you represent, who you work for?" Ochaco hastily persisted.

"We gather under the Aspeuean faction of Shiketsu, one of the many that exist throughout the country. We seek to right the wrongs imposed by the tyrannical government, while ensuring the health and safety of the people. We have no leaders, and no hierarchy of power. We seek only change."

All members of Shanta's division were taken aback by the sudden revelation. With the disclosure of that information, dozens of additional questioned manifested. She was aware of the factions that existed amongst Aspeu, as she recounted the fond memories of Iida telling her of the adventures and change they brought about to the people. Never would she have imagined a member of such a faction drop by unannounced to such a remote country such as Galliedenn. Then again, the recent events that have transpired were unforeseeable.

"So, do you know where he is now?" Shanta questioned, desperate to identify the whereabouts of her brother.

"Our latest scout spotted him on a train to Ceederwood, though their motive remains unknown. We hope to locate them once more while on route, or during their arrival at Ceederwood," said Boris emphatically.

"So, what your telling me is you two don't know where he is?" Her tenor conjured urgency.

"Unfortunately, at the moment we do not know his exact location. We informed the barkeep that we had information regarding him, not his exact whereabouts." Before Shanta could grasp the full weight of her dismay, Ochaco followed up the questioning.

"Do you know where he's going to be? Or how he's enduring Aspeu with an entire government and militia up his ass?"

"His destination is yet to be determined, but I can assure you we will consult you the second it becomes known. His safety and well-being on the other hand is a different matter. The trekkers he voyages with are young and know very little about Aspeu and its dangers. They are all very young, and reckless. However, the sphere that Izuku has seized, the one that has caused all this trouble to begin with, is a device unlike any other. It's aptitudes and potential are unrivaled, and with a tool like that on his side I'm sure he'll endure."

This information helped ease Shanta's nerves to a minor degree. The news she had just received would have been much more uplifting, if not for the fact that the orb was the source of the danger, and the tribute to many trials ahead. Assembling all the intel collected, she came upon an unaccounted variable. The men claimed that Izuku traveled with three other colleagues. With Tenya and Kaminari embarking alongside him, that leaves one individual unaccounted for. She trusted that Izuku would make good company in Aspeu, with the right kind of people.

"You two are sprouting all this info," Mandalay began, "but how can we trust any of it?" She said, eyeing them thoroughly. "For all we know you could be working for anyone, feeding us lies so we could come with you. Do you have any proof or identification as to who you two are, any shred of evidence that support your claims? Like a GAUNT note from Aspeu, confirming all this?" The two brothers paused for a moment, realizing the vast room for doubt.

"We'll address all these concerns once we arrive?" said Boris.

"Arrive where?" Mandalay continued. The two brothers issued yet another pause.

"Where do you people think we're even going?" Crimson Riot answered. The party stood aloof, now realizing that their destination was unclear, as they were wrapped up in their urgency to flee.

"We are trekking to Sanalze, where a small division of our people reside. From there we will fill you in on all you need to know. We will try our best to arrange a blimp voyage to Aspeu, so that you and your brother may unite once more." With the recent prison break, the attacks on her family and loved ones, and her brief time as a detainee, this was the most at ease she had felt in quite a while.

"Why would you do that for me?" Shanta questioned, grateful but disbelieving.

"This is all for a higher purpose, and a better world. In time you will come to understand."