Season Three, Episode XXX
Dark Days Ahead
. . .
Sonzai Suru
. . .
"Hey, are you alright?" Lifting my head towards the voice, I was met with the concerned gaze of my current guardian. He was a good looking guy, maybe in his late twenties. He had short cut, combed back black hair with a thin mustache. His hero costume consisted of a black suit, and red undershirt like he was going out to a club. "Want a drink?" Offering me a can from the vending machine down the hall.
"It's fine, I'm fine..." My head was pounding. Opening my eye, so to speak, for even just a few short minutes left me totally overloaded on stimulus. Combined with manipulating objects out of my reach, I was pretty burned out. "Just... Why did it have to be her, Vector?"
The older hero sighed lightly, leaning against the wall and rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, your uh... Former classmate, Ryoko... I heard from police she's been brought in for interrogation, they're speaking with her now."
"What about her injuries?" I questioned, "I'm surprised she's even alive..."
"She was given a thorough examination," Vector explained simply, "But they found that her physiology was like that of the other Noumu we've encountered." Well, I figured that much. "Her wounds are healing slowly, so she must have been given a minor regenerative quirk even if she doesn't know it... But she was awake throughout the entire procedure, never tried to fight back or resist in any way."
"Hmph, that's a first..." I wanted to feel good about bringing her in, especially after everything she'd done but-
S-Somebody... Anybody... I-I... I need HELP! PLEASE! I... I need a Hero to save me!"
"P-Please... Someone... Please save me..."
"Just... Thank you..."
"Something must have happened to her," I shook my head, stuffing both hands into my pockets. "The Ryoko I knew before, she would never have begged for help, or thanked me..."
Vector quirked an eyebrow, "You so sure?"
"She hated us," I replied quickly, "Almost killed me with her bare hands when she attacked the camp."
"But you still saved her," I felt Vector place a hand on my head, "You did a good job."
"Are you sure about that?" Teleporting out from under his hand so I was standing just across from him. "Because she basically told us she murdered her father the last time we spoke, she beat my best friend within an inch of his life, and was probably doing MORE work for the League of Villains when this mess blew up!"
Vector stared back at me, before leaning back and folding both arms over his chest. "Are you saying you didn't consider that when you jumped in to help?"
Ugh, "I don't know... I didn't think about it, I got all the details I could about that weird Overmind guy, and then before I knew it I was just... In between them both, protecting her..." Like, my body moved before I had a chance to think, when I heard her voice.
"Regardless of what happened before between you two, your actions today speak volumes for the kind of Hero you're going to be." Vector assured, flashing a big grin. "No, the hero you are, Pariah."
"Ugh, whatever just shut up already..." This smarmy jerk just knew exactly what to say huh? Smooth bastard, "And give me that soda."
. . .
Ryoko
. . .
I spent less than an hour at the hospital following the fight. They took samples, X-rays, ran a few quick tests. It seemed like they were more focused on figuring out how my body worked, than they were worried about my injuries. Which made sense, just about all the damage had been healed up by now. Not that it mattered much, considering I couldn't feel anything.
And now, I'd been sitting in this room across from an officer and a few guards. They had me locked up in all kinds of restraints, the kind of gear that could probably hold down even All Might. While they barked questions, asked for information about the League and the man I was supposed to be meeting with. I didn't bother hiding anything, the League cut me loose after all...
"So this... Overmind, Gendo, you said he could possess multiple people, how many did you see under his control at a single time?" The short bald officer asked.
"The most he ever controlled at once was three, but he said he had a massive collection of puppets." I replied, keeping my head down. I didn't want to make eye contact with these people, I felt so sick of everything. "He seemed to be able to... I don't know, activate the people he had control over at will."
"And he tried to take control of your body as well?"
"Yes."
"But you resisted, how?"
"Not sure," I replied, "I couldn't move... But, he made me angry and... I don't know, his control weakened, gave me enough time to take out the floor beneath us, breaking his focus."
"Hmm..." Quickly jotting down notes, likely keeping track of ways to counter The Overmind's possession. "And you don't know anything else about him? Did he say anything specific about his motives? Will he be contacting the League?"
I shook my head, "I don't know, it sounded like he was cutting ties with them... He wants to build his own criminal empire now that All For One is out of the picture."
A few more notes scribbled down, before he rose from his seat. "Anything else left to say for yourself? We've got more than enough eye witness testimony to convict, are you going to fight it?"
"No."
"Hmm... Your former classmates also said you admitted to murdering your father, is that true?"
"Yes."
Why was he being so pushy? "How did you do it?"
"I broke his neck." I would never forget his face.
"Why did you do it?" Does it even matter?
"... I... It doesn't matter..."
"I think it does." Leaning forward on the table, he kept pushing. "Why did you murder your father?"
"If it were a good reason, I would have told you..." I answered, eyes still downcast. Before I sighed heavily, "I was upset, after what happened at the festival... The one he told me he wasn't even going to watch... He crushed my last hope for achieving my dreams while smashing a bottle against my face, so in a fit of anger and hate I killed him, that's it..." It felt like that was such a long time ago, and to think I spent most of the time between then and now on a medical bed.
"And then you went to the League?"
"No, they came to me."
"... Alright, we're finished here... You'll be staying in this room and monitored until you're transferred." He said dismissively, taking his notes and heading for the door.
I'd given up hopes of getting out of here, I was going to get what was coming to me and nothing would change that. "W-Wait!"
He stopped in the doorway, looking back at me. "What?"
"Can... Can I speak to Su- I mean, can I speak to the hero that saved me?" I asked, finally lifting my head to look him in the eyes. "And... If she won't speak to me, just... Tell her I said thank you, again..."
Maybe he could see the desperation in my eyes, or the fear, or the shame. Because his own expression softened a little, before he turned away. "I'll pass along the message."
The door closed, and I went back to wallowing in silence.
I just... I needed to see her, even if it was going to be the last time...
. . .
Sonzai Suru
. . .
"She wants to what!?" I demanded, staring back at the officer who'd delivered this ridiculous message.
"Under any other circumstances we wouldn't consider it," He assured, holding up both hands defensively. "But given your history, and your unique ability to escape a tight situation... We figured we'd leave the decision up to you, and your current guardian."
To which Vector shrugged, "Meh, do whatever you want." As helpful as ever.
"Ugh, fine..." Sure, I'd here what she had to say, if only so I could maybe get information the police might not be willing to share.
"Right this way-" Yeah yeah I know the way, I can feel her locked up tight in that interrogation room. So I just teleported there, appearing before my former classmate.
"Yikes," I announced my presence, looking over the various restraints she was being held within. "They've got you on lock huh?"
She'd lifted her head as soon as I spoke, staring back at me. Her expression was both surprised and... I don't know, uncertain? "Suru, I... Wasn't sure you'd actually come..."
"Well here I am," I didn't plan to beat around the bush. I already had a headache from that fight, "So what do you want?"
She hesitated, swallowing dryly, "I just... I wanted to thank you again, for saving me..." But I knew she was still holding back, "I still... I still can't get over how easily you defeated him, you've grown so much... And I-" Her words hitching, I tilted my head slightly. "I haven't grown at all..."
Was this it? Was she... Really going to finally admit it? "That is what we said before..." Shrugging my shoulders casually.
"You were right." The words came without hesitation, as she lowered her head. "You were always right, I just made one stupid decision after another... Now look at me." She released a short, sad laugh. "I'm some kind of living doll... I don't feel pain anymore, the doctors that examined me said I don't have any vital signs either, I'm basically a walking corpse..."
Okay, this was getting a little darker than I wanted. "Ryoko, listen I-"
"Please, just... Let me speak," Practically begging, I remained silent. "What you said before... I want you to understand how much that meant to me..."
"Whatever you saw in her mind means nothing, because right now... I'm just another Hero, answering somebodies cry for help."
"My whole life... I feel like I've been waiting for someone to come along and save me," She admitted, "My dad was a bastard, blaming my mothers death on me... He was abusive, and I just took it... Bottled up my anger, snapped at anyone that tried to be nice to me... I wanted help, but refused to ask for it, deciding that I would become a Hero and save myself..." She released another laugh, I felt my heart sink a little seeing a tear rolling down her cheek. "That's funny, right? I was so desperate to become a Hero, so terrified of failure... I ruined everything for myself." She finally lifted her head, showing me her tear filled eyes. "At least... You guys liked me, at some point, didn't you?" The way her voice trembled, like she was desperately clinging to whatever good memories she had. "You... You actually tried to be my friends..."
This was getting worse by the second, "Hey, you don't need to..." What was I even supposed to say to that? "You can stop, Ryoko... I get it."
"I'm sorry," As the tears started to flow freely, she lowered her head to me. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry for Mako, the camp, every horrible thing I've ever said and done..." Openly sobbing now, "Even if, you never forgive me... Th-That's okay, I just... I needed to say it..."
I'd wanted to leave here with some sense of accomplishment. I'd just defeated a villain and brought in this hot mess of a criminal. But seeing her now? There wasn't anything good about this. I'd almost forgotten that despite everything that had happened, Ryoko was still just a teenage girl, like me and Sen. And now, well I think she was at the end of her rope. Turned into a monster, betrayed and abandoned by the League even after everything she put herself through for them. This was rock bottom, if I ever saw it.
What was I supposed to say now? I couldn't just forgive her for everything that had happened, could I? "Hey, don't worry about it." No, but... I could tell her what she needed to hear. "You've been through a lot... I know it seems like the end because well, you're definitely going to prison... But think about it like this," I put on a big grin, "You're going some where safe, where you'll be taken care of... You can finally rest for a little while, that sounds pretty nice right?"
Ryoko lifted her head once more, looking back at me. Sniffling a little, before a small, faint smile spread across her face. "Y-Yeah..." One of the few real, genuine smiles I'd ever seen her wear. "That sounds... Pretty nice, actually..."
"I've gotta get going," I didn't want to stay here. I had to think about this, "Got all kinds of paperwork to fill out in the report, you stay out of trouble, alright?"
"R-Right," She nodded her head, "You'll... You'll tell the others right? Mako, Sen, and Adachi? T-Tell them, that I'm sorry?"
Shit, "Yeah, of course." I didn't have the heart to tell her about Adachi's current situation. But considering how hard he'd taken her escape before... "Goodbye, Ryoko, I hope you can get the help you need."
And then, I was gone.
I had to think about how I was going to break the news to Adachi, after all he already been moved by the protection program. Living his new life, for over a month now. But, I'd still prefer if he'd heard it from me before the news got around I guess...
And this Overmind guy, he sounded like bad news. I had a feeling, in the pit of my stomach, that things were going to get a lot worse.
. . .
Kibari Gendo
. . .
To be denied by a child, was insulting.
But I couldn't let pride or ego make me lose sight of my goals.
With All For One gone, the criminal underworld was vulnerable.
I needed time to awaken my collection.
And I needed a strong host body to command from.
Something like Ryoko's... But stronger.
I needed information, about more of the dolls, the Noumu that the League of Villains were creating.
Perhaps if I could find one, of sufficient power that had been lost or captured...
Aaand there's the end of Season 3. Definitely the shortest one so far, but I needed to finish up things with Ryoko before we could move on to the real end game here.
And in case that wasn't quite obvious yet, The Overmind will be our finale.
Next season is going to be more chill, sort of uh... Slice of life, I'm already almost 5 chapters done with it, so I'll start rolling them out next week probably on saturday or sunday. I'm really enjoying writing something more toned down XD
It'll also be almost entirely Adachi focused, so look forward to our best boy settling in to his new life :D
