Chapter 26: Desperate Hope and a Vision
Midnight
The night before was full of fitful sleep for Nemuri. The doctors told her it would be twelve hours before the spine specialist, Dr. Rachel Schneider, could arrive in Japan. She stayed for four more hours at the Hospital before taking Joey home. The boy didn't want to leave his sister, and it took all of Nemuri's willpower not to give in. She had to promise to take him back the first thing in the morning before he agreed to go. She did her best to get him comfortable enough to go to bed, but Joey didn't want to sleep alone. He was too afraid, afraid for Marie, afraid for Nemuri and himself; all terrified that Pyromaniac would take away the people he loved, again. He had seen how Nemuri's presence forced Pyromaniac to run, he believed that she could keep him safe.
Nemuri looked down at her adopted son, he was finally asleep and nuzzling his head to her chest, and she just smiled, you have no idea how many people wish they were you right now. She gently patted his head and looked up at a picture on his wall. Joey still needed nightlights and the picture was easy to see. It showed Joey, Marie, Joseph and Mysa at the beach. All of them were in the classic bicep flex pose, first Joey, then Mysa, then Marie, and finally Joseph in the back. She looked at another picture, this one of a very pregnant Mysa, Marie was only eight years old and seemed so small as she kissed her stepmother's belly and the little brother growing inside.
Nemuri swallowed back tears, was this a life she could have had with Joseph? The Eighteen Plus Only Hero, after thinking she had lost her daughter; she vowed to never have children or become involved in a serious relationship, she was afraid of the heartache. Too many Heroes had left behind widowed spouses and parentless children and she didn't want to be a part of that. But she couldn't help but think now, what if? Could she have been a good mother to Marie while maintaining her status as a Hero? Would she have had to retire? Would her children have accepted her public persona? She knew that the barrier between her and Joey had been her job and persona, she wasn't a stay at home Mom, she was a sex symbol lusted after by millions; a far cry from what he thought a Mother should be.
She only realized she was crying when Joey stirred, her tears had fallen on his head. Nemuri wiped them off, but that just woke Joey up. "You need to go back to sleep," she told him. Joey responded, "So do you." Nemuri shook her head, "I'm used to late nights." The boy continued to look at her and she laid down on her back and closed her eyes. Her mind was fully awake though, and she listened and waited for Joey to go back to sleep, still holding on to her. Nemuri felt more tears fall and wondered if this was something Marie had done with Mysa when she was a little girl.
Several Hours Later
Nemuri and Joey eagerly waited in the Hospital lobby for the spine surgeon from America, Dr. Rachel Schneider. Finally, after a sleepless night and a lifetime of waiting. Dr. Toriyama showed Dr. Schneider in. She was a woman roughly Nemuri's age with short red hair and brown eyes, but her most notable features were her six feet in height and four arms. "Hello, I'm Dr. Rachel Schneider, I will be working on Marie's spine," the American doctor said in accented Japanese, and held out both her right arms for Nemuri and Joey. They shook hands and Nemuri said in English, "English is fine, Dr. Schneider. All I really care about is seeing my daughter is healed." Dr. Schneider looked down at Joey and Nemuri put her hand on his shoulder, "My son and daughter have been through a lot. You can explain the operation to us both." Dr. Schneider nodded, and Dr. Toriyama guided them to his office.
Dr. Schneider moved the female skeleton in Dr. Toriyama's office to show its spine and explained, "From what Toriyama-sensei has explained to me, Marie fell from a great height while battling a Villain. The fall fractured her ribs, skull, her shoulder blades, two vertebrae and dislocated two others. Her spinal injuries would have been difficult enough, however, the broken ribs and shoulder blades complicate matters. The operation will be extremely delicate, so as not to exasperate her ribs and shoulder blades and make sure that no small bone fragments go anywhere and damage her soft tissue."
Dr. Schneider reached into her lab coat and pulled out what looked like a plastic tube, "This is a device of my own design, think of it as a special cast meant for the spine specifically. I will attach it to her spine to protect it and straighten it as well to realign her dislocated vertebrae. After it is implanted, she should, after she heals, be able to live a normal life with it inside of her, unless…"
"Unless what?" Nemuri asked. Dr. Schneider took a breath, "It is my understanding that her Quirk is a Transformation Quirk, and one of her forms increases her size. If she uses that transformation while the spinal cast is inside, she could tear the vertebrae out of her spine, leaving her permanently paralyzed." Nemuri and Joey both swallowed, but then Joey asked, "What if her spine is healed? Can you take it off?" Dr. Schneider took a moment to consider, "Maybe? I've never had to remove the spinal cast after it was implanted. Why?" Nemuri realized what Joey was thinking and smiled.
"You might not know this, Dr. Schneider, but I am a Hero, my name is Midnight. I am also a teacher at U.A. High School, the finest Hero Academy in Japan. Our nurse is called Recovery Girl, real name Dr. Chiyo Shuzenji, she has one of the most powerful Healing Quirks in the world. With her help, we can speed up Marie's healing, and allow you to remove the spinal cast," Nemuri explained. Dr. Schneider nodded, "Very well. Call your Doctor. If she agrees, then I will apply the cast, and then remove it after Marie is fully healed."
Marie
The place where she was… How could one describe it? By sight it was completely white. It seemed to be a white void, filled with the sound of soft music. Soothing smells such as lavender, vanilla, tea, and many more seemed to swirl around the Void, filling Marie with a peaceful feeling. "Am I in Heaven?" Marie asked, "Am I…dead?"
"Not yet."
Marie turned around and saw two people she didn't expect to see. "Mom! Dad!"
Marie ran to her dad, Joseph Freeman and her mom, Mysa Freeman. She wrapped them both in a tight hug, not an easy thing since her father was so large, and her mom was so small, but she managed it. "I didn't think…this would happen now," Marie said with tears streaming down her eyes. Her parents were clothed in ways she never saw them in life, Joseph in a suit of white and gold and Mysa in an elaborate golden sari embroidered with many swirling designs. "You're not dead yet, daughter of my heart," Mysa told her, "Think of this as somewhere in between."
Marie was filled with relief, like she had never felt before. Her body felt lighter than ever, and her soul was at peace. "What does that mean for me?" she asked. "This is your path," Joseph told her, "We can't walk it for you. You know how cruel and terrible the world is. There is something better waiting for you, but no one can make you go there. Where do you want to go?"
Marie swallowed; she had never felt better before. How could she give up…this sheer relief? The answer came to her as she remembered Joey, Nemuri, Denki, Midoriya, Ochako, Momo, Mina, and all her other friends. She didn't want to leave them yet. And there was one more thing she had to do before she died.
"People still need me," Marie answered, "I can't leave yet." Joseph and Mysa smiled, and they both gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I knew you would say that," Mysa said, "You are truly your Father's daughter." Joseph and Mysa wrapped their daughter in a hug and told her, "Remember, you are only alone if you choose to be."
"I love you forever."
