Chapter 35
As the blimp rose from the smoldering grounds, Mei yelped gleefully knowing the hull had not been compromised by the dents and tears it had sustained. Izuku continued to kneel over the recovered UA member, concern and captivation flickered about his glazed visage. Bakugou released the firearm as it hit the floor with a weighty thud, cradling his injured arm as one would an infant. He looked over at Izuku, who fostered an trance unwavering.
"Yeah I fine thanks for asking," he scoffed.
"Yeah that's right bitches!" Mei roared with raw elation. "How's that fucking taste?!" she impeded abruptly, turning a rear from the wheel to gawk at her wounded comrade.
"Izuku, how is she?" Mei shouted from the head of the cockpit. She yearned for nothing more than to care for her estranged friend, had it not been for the floating cylindrical fortress she carefully operated.
"She's good. Still a little woozy from the whole ordeal, but she'll pull through. Do we have a first aid kit on board?"
"Yeah, grab it from the cabin over there," she informed, tilting her head to a glove compartment beside her. He nodded his head in endorsement, before facing Bakugou.
"Why don't you rest for now. I'm going to patch her up as best I can, then I'll take care of that arm of yours," Izuku proposed, making his way towards the equipment.
"Sure, take your time. Also, when are we going to discuss the whole, "AC wrapped around your arm" situation you have going on there?" he asked, disordered.
"Bakugou, there will be plenty of time for that later. First things first, I have to help Mellissa." Bakugou bobbed his head hazily before finally collapsing in the seat beside Mei. The fatigue trumped his curiosity. A moment later Izuku ruffled through the kit, procuring gauze, disinfectant, and a thread and needle for stitching. Her eyelids flickered weakly, conscious, but fatigued. She held her gaze to the ceiling, opening her eyes periodically to view the world around her. He felt it appropriate to warn her about the relief he was about to provide.
"Hello Mellissa, my names Izuku," he announced, refraining his vocal cords from quivering to severally. "I'm going to try to patch you up as best I can, after that you should have something to eat."
"What, what's that smell?" she questioned, ruffling her nose in protest.
"Oh well, you're currently resting on some produce that may or may not be expired. Not the best makeshift bed I'll admit," he clarified, beginning to ramble slightly. She merely nodded, conserving her energy, reposing her horse voice. "I'll explain all of this later, but right now we have to address those wounds." It was only then that Izuku veered his attention once more to the golden shell that clutched his right side. The casing caressed his being like an additional layer of skin, aggressively gluing itself upon him. After a moment searching, he found the same lilac button that had caused the fusion, located neatly upon his intercostals.
Swallowing his dread, he pressed the button once more, unsure of what was to come. As he suspected, the pistons and gears that gave structure to AC began to churn and rotate, as hundreds of metal sheets layered together once more. After a minute had passed, AC unfastened himself from Izuku, smacking the floor below with a bounce. He remained still, while his light flickering dimly. He was not worried however, knowing full well that all AC required was sufficient time to recharge.
Diverting his attention away from the machinations of AC, he felt a lavish stroke on the sleeve of his navy-blue jacket. Mellissa tugged on it weakly, attempting to deliver an utterance as best she could with her damaged voice box. Izuku leaned in closer to heed his patients wishes.
"Thank you, thank you so much," she whispered weakly, as a misty spray was fashioned from her eyes. Izuku graciously accepted the thanks, treasuring it like pearls within the recesses of his mind. He began to toil over Mellissa's wounds. For every injury he applied the disinfectant towards, his patient stifled a squeal of discomfort. He apologized profusely as he began to wrap the gauze around her minor wounds, as if he were draping a mummy. Though he strove to be as chivalrous as possible, he could not help marvel at her body, praying she did not recognize the redness in his cheeks and ears. After spending some time soothing her more minor injuries, he proceeded towards those that curdled his blood at first glance.
Threading the needle, he began to sew the deeper gashes. He kept his hands from trembling on account of the fury that sweltered within him, vowing once again to castigate the man or machine that committed these actions. As he worked her face became more pain stricken, as her hand began to grip the side of his trousers with an iron-tight clasp.
"Anytime you want me to stop just ask," he enquired, worried sick in regard to her state of being.
"I'm fine, just keep going," she spoke through gritted teeth.
"Honey, it's so great to have you back," Mei said from the foremost part of the gondola. "I'll be with you as soon as I've gotten her up to the clouds."
"It's nice to hear from you as well," Mellissa acknowledged with great difficulty. If these circumstances occurred three months prior, he would have gladly allowed Bakugou or Mei to address her wounds. However, he had developed a knack for treating injuries after the endless brawls he allotted with Naezono. After the better part of an hour had passed, her arms and legs had been properly mended, while her stomach was wrapped in several layers of blotched gauze. He knelt, taking pride in the quality of his work, satisfied that he had done all that he could.
"Here, this should make you more comfortable," he whispered. He abandoned his jacket, curling it up into a ball whilst cautiously resting her head atop it.
"Thank you so much. I've begun to lose count of the days I've spent in that bleak cell. How did you find me?" she questioned in a raspy, painstakingly weak register.
"Well here's the thing, your little friend here helped me out," he said, gesturing towards the stationary orb. As she laid her gaze upon the sphere, her expression altered from that of gratitude, to a tenacious anger.
"Why would you bring it back here?" she snapped, placing as much emphasis as she could muster with her horse voice. Izuku heart plummeted at the unwarranted hostility.
"What do you mean? I didn't know where "back here" was. I had no clue as to where AC came from, or why he was delivered to me in the first place. All I saw was the recording of you on the steam cycle, and that you were in some sort of trouble."
"AC? Why are you personifying it?" She asked again, as confusion displaced her anger. He found the question quite odd. Given the fact that she stumbled upon the orb prior to Izuku, he presumed she would know more about the enigma that was AC.
"We named him, and it's because he is sentient. He's also the reason why we made it out of there in one piece." She wavered for some time, as fragments of the puzzle began to link together within her mind.
"There's something I've needed to ask you for the longest now," he began, receiving a sympathetic nod. Her preliminary anger appeared to have contracted, gaining a sense of the current events. "Why did you bring him to me? Why ship off a multibillion-dollar government funded apparatus to someone you've never met halfway across the globe?" The enquiry resided deeply within the recesses of his psyche, waiting to be resolved for the longest of time. He was first met with a sigh, her piercing blue eyes then stirred to meet his.
"I'll explain everything," she began, though her thoughts were halted as Bakugou's heavy boots came bounding towards them. He sat beside the two of them, being greeted with peculiar glares.
"What? I'm just as curious as he is. We're all on the same team here, I just want to be filled in." Her watch fell upon Bakugou, unaware of how to address the man.
"Oh, hey by the way, I'm Bakugou," he greeted bluntly, his eyes flickering to the side somewhat.
"Mellissa, it's a pleasure." Seeing no harm in the extra company she continued her tale, resting her absorbed stare on Izuku alone.
"I was sent out on scouting opp. No one was briefed about it other than Shoto, Asuy, and my father. Intel came in about a mechanism unmatched in processing data, functionality, and most importantly, sustainable energy. All information regarding the creator and his or her whereabouts are unknown to all. Some even think it could be alien in origin." Izuku was both frightened and vexed upon receiving her report. The burning question as to where AC had come from had gone unanswered, almost indefinitely.
"A mole, deep within the society of Aspuean administration informed us that the apparatus in question was not particularly well guarded, but it's location was obscure, recognized by very few individuals."
"It seemed pretty well guarded to me," Bakugou interjected with a scruff.
"That's nothing," she began. "With any other asset such as that, if one were to exist, then hordes of TANKS, and flock after flock of Aspeuan green caps would be swarming the grounds."
"Alright, well why weren't they?" Izuku questioned.
"Because the mechanism was unearthed decades ago, and no one to this day knows how the hell to turn it on. Eventually the administration became uninterested, seeing as no military gain could come of it. That's why I was able to sneak past the TANKS and militants in the first place, as best I could," she trailed off reminded of the battery and assaults she sustained while in captivity. Possessing little control over his actions, Izuku involuntarily placed a comforting hand on Mellissa's shoulder, one she happily accepted.
"If that's the case, then your trials were not in vein," informed Bakugou. "This guy over here actually managed to turn it on," he said gesturing towards Izuku. Her eyes widened as best they could, bewilderment absorbed her.
"How on earth did you manage that? What does it do?" she asked in rapid succession.
"I mean, trial and error, I guess. Pressing pistons and gyrating segments until the puzzle was solved. As for what its function is," he began, procuring the most effective explanation.
"Most of the time it just floats around happily," Bakugou began comically. "But every once in a while, it'll proven useful. It's gotten Izuku and I out of some dicey situations, and even tracked you down." Her curiosity on grew, though relief washed over her face knowing her jeopardizing mission was far from trivial. She craned her neck, observing the ball tentatively, as it lay completely motionless.
"It doesn't seem to be doing much of anything now," she confessed.
"Oh, don't worry," Izuku consoled. "If he expends a lot of energy, he usually goes dormant for a little while, he just needs to recharge."
"Especially after what happened. A situation which, by the way, I'm still waiting on an explanation for." He threw an arm up in prying protest, awaiting a response.
"Man, I don't honestly know," Izuku retorted. "Remember that button that emerged on AC's surface the minute we landed?" he begun explaining.
"You pressed it didn't you?" he responded; his eyes half shut in dissatisfaction.
"Bakugou you don't get it, there was no other option. I was under heavy fire, backed up in a corner, it was the only move left."
"And what if it was something like a detonation button, what then?" Bakugou retorted persistently.
"Well then it would have been worth it knowing you and Mellissa got out alive," he concluded, riled with the discussion at hand.
"I'm so confused," Mellissa croaked feebly. "What did pressing a button accomplish?"
"Good question," Bakugou supplemented.
"I can't really explain it man. AC just kind of, contorted on to me, assembling itself into thousands of little pieces. He became an extension of my arm." A moment dragged by as Bakugou contemplated the innovation.
"That's pretty nifty," was all that Bakugou offered as a response. It was only then that Mei's combat boots could be heard echoing of the steel grounds, as the blimp soared on autopilot. She knelt beside the trio, clasping Mellissa's hands with hers as tears began to well in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you," Mei exclaimed, breaking her voice in the process.
"It's alright," she responded. "We have what we came here for. We finally have the upper hand." The two began to exchange accounts of the life of a captive, in comparison to the life of an active member of UA. The duo appeared to finally be at ease, with their connection finally restored. Amidst the chatter Bakugou shot a look at Izuku, as if to pull him aside while providing the long-lost friends some space. Reluctant to abandon Mellissa's side, Izuku stood, following Bakugou to the comfort of his co-piolet seat.
"I think it's about time we get into contact with Tenya and Russel, their probably worried sick about us." The thought of Izuku's offline earpiece suddenly registered, overlooking the memory of powering it down during the action that ensued. With a finger pressed upon his ear, the device rang boisterously in his ear, indicating its activation.
"Hey, is anyone on call," Izuku asked, as Bakugou followed suit and activated his earpiece.
"Hello," said Shoto's in his trademark, monotone register. Izuku spirit sunk into a pit, as worry and remorse flooded his system. The joy of the escape was short-lived.
"Hello Shoto," Izuku responded, his tenor registered despair.
"What have you done?" he queried, as his inflection transforming into a formidable force.
"Shoto I'm sorry, but the actions I took were ones I needed to commit. Knowing someone was endanger, and being held hostage, I had to act."
"Do you take me for a fool?" He asked once again, as his speech reached new heights. Izuku's voice nearly failed him, though he sustained his train of thought.
"Please just know that the actions we committed as a group were pressed upon by me, and only me. I am the sole culprit, please do not punish the others." His voice rung of desperation. If there was an opportunity to absolve Tenya, Denki, and Mei of their crimes, his moral compass obligated him to size that opportunity.
"How long have you been conspiring against us?" he questioned, returning to his latent tenor.
"Shoto, don't regard it as conspiring. All that we've done was for the sole purpose of brining one of your operatives home. A task which, we've actually managed to accomplish against all odds." Goosebumps instigated by fear alone began to dot across the nape of his neck. He was unsure of the consequences that would trail his wrongdoings should he get caught, though Shoto appeared more enraged than he had previously anticipated.
"Izuku, we've found the tracker." Izuku shot a perplexed look at Bakugou, similarly, tuning into the same frequency. He excessively shrugged his shoulders at the comment delivered.
"Shoto what tracker are you referring to, you've lost me."
"Don't play dumb with me Izuku. We've given you a home for two months, a cause to rally behind, and people to care for you. I'll ask, again how long have you been conspiring against us?"
"Shoto I have absolutely no inkling as to what you're-" his tongue ceased upon the sudden realization. Flashbacks began to parade about his cognizance, to the duffle bag that Tensei and Tento had offered them. In addition to the credits and clothing they had given out; a pager was issued one that allowed for tracking. Izuku shot his head up to observe a bug eyed Bakugou, who appeared to have dawned onto the same realization.
"Shoto, listen carefully. The tracker in that duffle bag was given to us by Tenya's brothers, they are members of the navy. If we ever happened upon a disastrous situation, they assured us that they would be there to send help. That's the only reason why the tracker's there." Izuku spoke fast but articulated with great urgency.
"That is a lie," Shoto retorted blankly.
"Shoto it's not-" Bakugou began.
"As we speak, there are several fleets of TANKS, green caps, airships, and STEHB's, marching through Caden's woods, just to snuff us out. We found a distress call on you're tracker tick off, just as our scouts witnessed them approaching. There can be no room for coincidence. They will be on us in a fortnight, and we won't make it." Izuku could heed his patience thinning.
"Shoto that's not the case, truly! We're coming back right now; all of this can be explained. We have Mellissa, we have new information regarding AC, please you just have to hear us out." Izuku face grew flush pink, harmonizing with the hair on Mei's scalp as despondency sank in.
"If you come back, we will detain you, we will ignore ethical standards, and throw you into a steel cage accompanying Tenya and Kaminari."
"What have you done with Tenya and Denki?" Izuku barked, as the rancor found its way back to his voice.
"Goodbye Izuku," he concluded, before cutting off the transmission. In a fit of wrath and defeat, Izuku yanked at the earpiece viciously, chucking it to the far corner of the gondola. He struck the steel hull of the blimp with his closed fist, splitting his knuckles. The intense upsurge triggered slender streams of blood to emit from his troubled digits. All cabin members fell silent as a forlorn feel rinsed over all. A shadow grew on Mei's face, while Bakugou placed an atypical, comforting palm upon Izuku quaking shoulder.
"What's going on?" Mellissa questioned, darting her eyes between all party members.
"A betrayal," was all that Bakugou could utter in reply.
