Chapter 79: Last Train to Iwate, Part 2
"Hawks, are you sure about this?"
"Of course, Jeanist. This is the only way we'll be able to convince the League…and Dabi especially…that you are actually dead."
"What if they mutilate my body, like one puts holes in their jeans?"
"That will not happen. After I show them the body, I'll be free to carry out my plan."
"Yes, but…if you are found out or killed, I will be stuck in stasis. No one else knows about this but you. Who else will free me when the time comes?"
"We can't afford to let anyone else in on the secret. You've got to trust me, Jeanist."
"I do. I will play my part, of course. I am simply ensuring you have completely thought through all the potential ramifications."
"My mind doesn't move as fast as all that. They're considered."
…
Hawks watched in horror as Gigantomachia slammed his foot down between the train cars, separating the back car from the rest. He's smarter than I thought! RIGHT as the sound of the magnetic brakes kicking in had screeched through the air, he had immediately diverted his attention from Hawks to the train car. This was not a development Hawks had expected, not one the League had told him anything about.
The sense of the situation accelerating out of his hands was causing his mouth to dry in a slight rising panic. He had to get down to the train.
Hawks folded his wings and dived. Gigantomachia slowly turned, sunken eyes narrowing. He led his swinging fist to catch Hawks as he fell, but Hawks rolled and made himself small, hissing out of the way by a few centimeters. Behind them, the rest of the train was getting away.
Visible through the completely open front of the back car were two of his allies, staring ahead at the train with lost expressions.
"Tsukuyomi!" Hawks called, landing on the tracks. "Are you alright?"
"Hawks!" The boy's eyes widened. The girl next to him was still in a stupor, staring up at the giant in horror.
"You two have to move!" Gigantomachia's foot came down onto the tracks again, and Hawks swooped sideways to avoid it. "Tsukuyomi, take her and fly to the moving train!"
"But…you can't possibly deal with that thing on your own…"
"I can." Hawks unsheathed a feather sword. "I should have just enough feathers to. This guy is only a clone of the original. He has far less durability."
That, surprisingly, got the alien girl to blink. "He…he was made by that double villain?" Ashido asked.
"Yeah! I'll reduce him to goop! You two need to get up to the train and assist Mirko and Everywhere! Go now!"
Ashido shook her head hard, and nodded to Tokoyami. "Come on, hurry!"
Dark Shadow unfurled. "Aww, but I wanted a chance at the big guy!"
"No time for complaints, Dark Shadow. Grab her!"
The two students flew away, and Hawks showed them his back as the giant loomed over him.
…
Mina's heart raced with terror as she sensed the giant's eyes on them, flying away on Dark Shadow toward the train. If his objective was to keep us separated, he's going to come after us…
She looked back, a sickening feeling in her stomach.
"Ashido, don't!" Tokoyami warned.
The giant was lumbering toward them, a great shadow that froze her heart. Then, Hawks was there, a tiny insect, sending his stinging feathers toward the thing's throat and armpits and the crook of its knees…vulnerable places. The giant cried out in pain, though it was more in annoyance than anything…however, it was enough to distract it. The two students sped on toward the train, catching up with the back.
"I hope he really is enough to defeat that thing," Tokoyami muttered. "And he's just not just being brave…"
Mina kept her eyes fixed on the giant as it stumbled around, trying to catch up to the train while Hawks did his best job at holding it back. Only a Twice clone. The real one is still out there, and is even stronger…
…The next time we meet, I won't freeze, she promised, steel courage passing through her. The next time will be your last.
They reached the train again, landing on the connector. Dark Shadow threw open the door, and they went into darkness.
…
Mirko looked back and forth between father and son in complete, utter disbelief. "You…he…WHAT?!"
Yamishiwa never took his eyes off Doko. "What, you never told your mentor about me? I'm wounded."
Oh, you're not even CLOSE to wounded yet. "I didn't know this was you until right now," Doko said aloud. "I only suspected. Your precious master only gave me half the picture. For all I knew, you could have been one of those Nomu. Or a prisoner. Or…anything else. Instead, you're one of his doctors. One of his slaves."
Yamishiwa's violet eyes narrowed. "Humans were meant for a life of servitude. You yourself, as a hero, will become a slave for society. Your mentor here can tell you all about that." He nodded toward Mirko.
"He's trying to piss us off and divide us," Doko muttered. "Don't listen…" He looked over at Mirko, who had a very…strange expression.
"Katayama," she said, in a very serious tone. "You should have told me about this."
"Huh? B-but…" Doko went pale. "Mirko, I'm serious. I didn't know he would be…I mean, I didn't…I wasn't even sure he existed!"
"You seem real confident talking to him now. Like this was a fated reunion or something." She cracked her neck. "What else aren't you telling me, warping brat?"
"Oh, there's plenty!" Yamishiwa called from across the train car. "He was personally selected by All For One, you know. Our ally Kurogiri contains the soul and Quirk of his mother. And of course…let's not forget what is swirling around inside him right now. The void."
Doko's blood ran cold. "How do you know about that," he growled, his teeth clashing together.
"Why, because I connect with the same place, on a much more muted level." Yamishiwa grinned. "Ujiko here has always been too afraid to research it too much."
"There's been other things to focus on," the older doctor murmured, still wringing his hands and watching Mirko nervously.
"But yeah." Yamishiwa gave Mirko an easy shrug. "Your little warping brat there - and my brat too, oh doesn't that feel fun to say - has a connection with another dimension where creatures beyond our comprehension live. Monsters that created Quirks, monsters that plan to invade Earth very soon. Through him, they can form their opening if he uses his power too much. And he's known all this for a while."
"How…you…" Doko swallowed. I have to act shocked. I have to deny it. "Mirko, listen…we have to…"
"Oh, you don't get to tell me what we have to do." The rabbit heroine rounded on him, hands on her hips. "Did you forget who is who in this mentor-student relationship? Or are you just going to keep hiding things from me? Is all this TRUE?!"
Doko still hadn't looked away from his father. "Yes," he breathed, very quietly. "But it doesn't change what we have to do."
"I think it does, as a matter of fact. You can cause an alien invasion by using your power too much and didn't think to tell me? Have you considered removing yourself from this situation? I don't trust you to approach this fight objectively when you have a relation to one of these pricks."
Doko finally turned to look at her, upset at the accusation. "Hey, that's not-"
In that moment…in the moment both of them were looking at each other…Yamishiwa acted.
A black gooey portal descended down on them from above. "MOVE!" Doko grabbed Mirko about the waist and teleported sideways, getting them clear.
Mirko fought him. "Gerroff me!"
He whirled, still holding her. Yamishiwa was stepping toward them, his Quirk swirling about his hands. He flicked his right hand.
Doko didn't see the portal, and assumed it was behind him. He ducked with Mirko, letting it pass over him and dissipate.
Mirko kicked herself free and hopped up onto one of the shelves, the shelves containing packets of Quirks. "I'm so pissed I could scream!" she roared. "HAWKS!" she tapped her earpiece. "Hawks, where are you!"
Yamishiwa was still coming, but Doctor Ujiko was running, running back out of the car.
Doko warped toward his father, setting his face determinedly, and pulled back his fist. Yamishiwa got ready to counterattack, but Doko warped through him, and warped again toward Ujiko. He got between the doctor and the door, and threw his fist forward to hit the doctor's face. Ujiko's gruesome face drooped in terror…
…And a gooey portal formed where he punched. He hit nothing but air.
Doko looked around wildly. The rest of his fist had gone through the portal on the other side…where Mirko had been standing a moment before. But she'd hopped out of the way.
Doko pulled his fist out with a hiss as Yamishiwa closed the portal rapidly. He nearly cut my hand off! Ujiko shoved him out of the way and stumbled toward the door.
Doko turned and tried to grab him. Mirko flipped and folded into an axe kick, headed straight for Yamishiwa's head. He created a portal there, sending her kick right into Doko's side with the portal exit. Doko felt all the wind get knocked out of him as he flew sideways, slamming into the side of the train car. Ujiko slithered away.
Mirko cursed. She hopped over Yamishiwa's head and aimed for a kick to the back, trying to outspeed him, but he instantly created another portal to protect himself. This time, the portal exit was behind Mirko's own head. She hissed and ducked, using her rabbit instincts to avoid her own blow, but then Yamishiwa began to close the portal, laughing maniacally.
"NO!" Doko screamed, and warped Mirko to safety, with all her limbs intact. He put her atop the shelves again.
Mirko looked around wildly, and then saw the purple glow fading.
"Dammit, you warpers are too fucking complicated to beat up!" Mirko hissed.
"Go after the doctor!" Doko said. "I'll fight him!"
"No! I'm not leaving you alone with your old man! And stop trying to tell me what to do!" She slammed her foot down on the shelf, shattering the Quirk packets.
Mirko was remembering what they came here to do…destroying the equipment. But this did not even occur to Doko. All his focus was on his father.
Who was now lifting his arms up in a showy gesture, chuckling. "Doko, Doko, Doko. I can't believe you tricked me like that to go after the doctor. I thought you would only have eyes for me."
"You have no right to call me that. You didn't give me my name. And I feel no connection with you." Doko lifted his fists. "The only reason for me to fight you is to clear a path for my mentor."
Mirko destroyed another shelf. Yamishiwa created a huge portal beneath her feet, and Doko didn't see the exit. He might be trying to send her outside! Doko warped her clear, but he was losing his focus. He didn't know how many of those he had left in the tank before he might start slipping and taking off her body parts himself.
"Fuck's sake!" Mirko complained. "STOP THROWING ME AROUND!"
Doko warped toward his father, feinting a punch toward his face. As he expected, the man created a portal there. Doko warped around to the other side, finishing the punch to the back of his head. But it landed awkwardly, with not enough power. Yamishiwa staggered, but he was still conscious…and it was because Doko was sinking into a portal at his feet.
He warped clear, and picked up a piece of shelf debris with his Quirk. He dropped it onto Yamishiwa from above, who portaled it away, sending its velocity sideways at Mirko as she tried to destroy another shelf. In the instant his father shifted focus, Doko warped in again, and upward. He tried an axe kick of his own, but his father made another portal. On the other side, Doko felt rushing air cover his leg, and realized that its exit was outside the train. He warped clear again.
Yamishiwa was cackling. "You can't touch me, Doko. I have mastered the use of this Quirk. And you're quite a bit rusty at fighting warpers. It's been a while since Kurogiri was locked up, I suppose."
"Kurogiri!" Doko hissed in anger. "How long have you known my mother was in there? Have you been All For One's ally even since then? Did you help him make her into that thing?"
His father shrugged. "Yeah. It would have been a waste of a good Quirk otherwise."
Doko's mind went white-hot with rage. "How…could you say that…about your own…wife?"
Yamishiwa gave him an incredulous look. "Did you inherit any of my intelligence? She wasn't my wife. Your conception was…let's just say, it came at a surprise to her."
Mirko's eyes widened, instantly understanding, a second before Doko did. "KID!" she roared. "Don't…"
It was too late. Doko warped toward his father, his body coursing with violent light, screaming in rage…
…And the train car lights flickered. Yamishiwa smiled. Here it comes, he thought. Now comes the void at last.
…
"Hawks! Hawks, where are you!"
Mirko's voice was filled with anger and frustration. They must have run into Yamishiwa by now. Would he and Everywhere be fighting by now? Or would they be fighting together, against Mirko? Hawks had to go down and find out.
But the giant was continuing to vex him. He was running out of feathers, and if his intuition was correct, he would need to save some for fighting on the train. The Twice clones were not supposed to be greatly durable, but it was taking everything he had just to keep the giant back.
Luckily, the giant was pushing them both in the direction of the moving train, as Hawks continued to retreat, trying to hold him back. Could it be…that this is actually the REAL Gigantomachia? No, that was preposterous. No way would they play him as a card so early. Then again, without All For One or Shigaraki around…who really knew what the giant was capable of. His own agency, perhaps? Had the real giant come to protect Shigaraki himself?
Then, one of Hawks' feathers penetrated a spot between plates of rocky armor, and a bit of Twice-like goo came streaming off the giant's body. Hawks exulted. YES!
But he heard more crackling through the radio. What was happening down there? The rushing train was now directly beneath him. I don't have enough feathers…I have to go down and help them!
But now I know I can destroy this massive obstacle! What to do, everything's so close! I have to make a decision!
Hawks…the man who's always a bit too fast…
He flashed back to Jeanist's words, before they'd gone through with the plan. Before they'd put Jeanist into a deathlike state, and hidden his body away…
Hawks dived toward the train.
…
Mina and Tokoyami made their way through two dark storage cars before they saw a blue glow up ahead in the next one.
"Let's hurry," said Tokoyami. "I think there is an objective here." He was talking in a hushed voice, as if villains or Nomu might jump out at them from the darkness.
The train shuddered. In the distance, Mina thought she heard shouting. "They're fighting," she said. Doko is fighting. We've got to stop dragging our feet and be useful!
The door to the next car was locked. She melted through it with her acid.
They stepped inside. The blue glow was coming from a tank. There was a person floating inside it, hooked up to tubes.
"A Nomu?" Tokoyami questioned aloud, circling around to the front of the tank. Then, he gasped. "No. Not a Nomu."
Mina joined him at the front, and looked up.
"Tomura Shigaraki," she breathed. Goosebumps crawled up her arms. His hair had gone white, and was floating up above his head. His eyes were shut. On the tank was a readout that said 65%.
"We must destroy this thing," said Tokoyami, bringing Dark Shadow out.
Mina took a wary step back. "Won't…won't that kill him?"
"I'm not sure. We can't afford to hesitate, though. This must be some kind of tank to power him up. Imagine what he could do if his Decay Quirk was stronger."
"Yes, yes. Imagine."
Both of them whirled. The villain known as Dabi emerged from the shadows, a grim smile on his face. "More UA students. Just when I thought my day wouldn't get any better."
"Fire…" Tokoyami muttered, pulling Dark Shadow back toward him just a tad.
Mina's eyes narrowed. "Go ahead and shoot at us. We'll just dodge, and you'll burn the tank of your leader here."
Dabi laughed. "What is it with you kids? You always jump to the most callous ideas. What are they even teaching you up there at that school…"
"He's another Twice clone," she told Tokoyami, loudly. "We can take him."
"Oh, no. I'm real. Dabi, in the flesh." He knocked his knuckles against his skull. "Of course, even if I was a clone, this would hurt just as bad." He swept his arm out, and sent blue flame toward them.
Mina flipped out of the way, while Dark Shadow stretched out and blocked most of the fire, Tokoyami safely behind him. The shadow creature roared in pain, and shrunk in size. Dabi ran toward them.
Mina jumped over the flame-wall and met him halfway. He aimed another blast at her, but she rolled, hopped upward, and got her legs around his throat, pulling him down to the ground in a scissor move. He reached up with one fist and set it afire, causing her to scramble backward, hissing in pain. He'd just barely scalded her with that.
Dark Shadow came racing in, but he countered with fire, and the creature whimpered, shrinking even more. Then, Dabi took off running.
Tokoyami looked furious. "We've got to go after him!" he declared, racing toward the exit to the car where Dabi disappeared.
Mina looked back at the tank. "But, Shigaraki…"
"He's asleep! Dabi is awake, and could cause problems for our allies! We can come back for Shigaraki!"
Mina gave the tank one last nervous look, before following Tokoyami in the chase.
The next car was storage again. Dabi was about to reach the other end, as a plump, mustached man in a lab coat passed him. "Go, Doc!" the villain cackled at him.
Tokoyami and Dark Shadow ran past the man, completely focused on Dabi. Mina's head turned as the guy scrambled past them. Wait…who's he? She was filled with doubts and confusion. Weren't they focusing on the wrong things?
But Tokoyami was still bounding forward after the flame villain, and she couldn't leave him alone to deal with that when fire was his weakness. Plus, Doko is ahead…
She turned away from the coated man, too, and kept going.
…
The UA students ignored me! Ujiko thought in relief as he ran back toward Shigaraki. Dabi's distraction had worked.
I must protect Tomura. He is everything. Mirko will destroy many of my Quirks, and the High-Ends may be gone, but I have more Nomu. And as long as we keep Tomura, we will be fine.
Go, Dabi! Go go go!
…
As he jumped toward his father, everything suddenly went dark.
Doko paused. Time slowed down, and he was floating. The train car seemed…distant. Violet glow was all about him. And down below…far away…
A single undulating tentacle came slithering up out of a seam in reality, probing, searching. Doko gasped. In that instant, he realized what he was doing. I'm opening the void. My rage…my power…it's coming apart.
He had to rein it back in. But how? How would he?
He became acutely aware of all his surroundings. Mirko and Yamishiwa, still in this train car. Hawks was approaching, descending from above. In the train behind them, Dabi was coming, too. And beyond him…
Tokoyami and Mina.
Control, Tokoyami's voice seemed to say. Your Quirk is your own. What is there to worry about? As long as you don't care to open the void, it will not open. It is simple as that.
Mina's face swam before him. Doko…I love you. I love you so much.
I love you too, he thought back. And I want us to grow old together. In peace.
The tentacle retreated. The seam was closing again. Time sped up. The train lightened. His father's gleeful face suddenly sank into a confused frown…
…And Doko landed a solid punch, right in his belly.
Yamishiwa exhaled breath forcefully, falling backward onto the floor of the train car. Doko stood up proudly over him, healthy violet light coursing about his body.
"I have more to fight for than my anger," he told his father as the man scrambled backward in fear. "And that makes the difference between us."
"You think I fight for anger?" Yamishiwa said in a hushed voice. "That couldn't be further from the truth. All this…all my work…has always been for you."
"I don't want it."
"But you do want to control your Quirk. The next time a situation like that happens, you may not be able to rein it back in, son. I can help you with that. I'm the only other one who knows your burden."
"Don't…call me…son. You have no right to that." Doko took another step forward. "And I may have kept my burdens a secret from some…" He looked up at Mirko apologetically. She was watching them with a pensive expression.
"...But that doesn't mean I carry it alone. I have friends. I have love. You have none of that. Tell me, sir. What even makes your life worth living?"
Yamishiwa looked down at the floor, and chuckled. "Moments like this…I suppose." Then, he shot to his feet and got ready to attack.
Mirko leapt down from the shelf and aimed a kick at the man's back. "Together, Everywhere!" she declared.
Steel adrenaline coursed through Doko. He charged his energy up through his fist, aiming it for his father's face…
…Black goo filled his vision, and suddenly he and Mirko were crashing into each other, rolling along the ground.
…
Hawks burst through the window, shattering glass everywhere. As he landed, he got his bearings. And his heart immediately sank.
Katayama was tackling Mirko to the floor, his Quirk activated, while Yamishiwa closed one of his portals. They were working together after all. His worst fear had been confirmed.
Two feathers shot out, one for the father, one for the son. They both found their targets…a stab in the shoulder. Yamishiwa cried out, and whirled in anger. "You!" he declared.
"You," Hawks shot right back at him.
…
Doko stood, rubbing his shoulder in confusion. Mirko was splayed out beneath him, woozy. They had hit each other really hard.
"Hawks…?" he questioned. "Why did you…"
"Not another word." A shadow had fallen over the face of the number two hero. A feathery sword was in his hands. "I should have known from the beginning what you were. The offspring of this villainous scum."
Doko's heart sank. "No, Hawks, it's not like tha-"
Yamishiwa cackled. "Oh, isn't this rich!"
Mirko was trying to get to her feet. "Birdbrain…" she croaked. "Wait…"
"I suspected there was some kind of connection between the two of you," said Hawks. "But I didn't want to believe it. And now, here you are…a traitor through and through."
"Ah, Hawks," said another voice, emerging from the back of the train car. "A hypocrite to the very end."
Dabi emerged from the shadows. The real Dabi, Doko thought. Not some Twice fake. He's the real deal.
Hawks turned very slowly, keeping his sword raised. "You need to step away from this situation," he told the fire user. "Now."
"Why should I?" Dabi shrugged. "Someone's gonna have to tell the kid the full picture. Hey, Doc, can I do the honors?"
Yamishiwa shrugged noncommittally.
Dabi turned his dead blue gaze toward Doko. "Don't listen to this bird, kid. He's the real traitor. He's been working with us - the League - since the Kyushu incident."
Doko's eyes widened. Mirko got up on one knee. "What?" she breathed hoarsely.
Hawks' eyes darted back and forth, between all the other people in the room. "Everywhere…Mirko…listen to me. We need to get out of here. The objectives have been mostly achieved…"
"Have they?" Dabi interrupted. "What were your objectives, exactly? In fact, I seem to recall…" He pulled a recorder out of his pocket, and pressed play.
Hawks' voice played clearly through the tape. "I'll be straight with you. The heroes know about your little convoy transport."
The voices of the villains, arguing. Doko's blood ran cold.
"There's a spot of good news. The heroes have put me in charge of mounting an assault on your train. They, luckily for you, think that a small, quick force will be preferable for this assignment. They don't fully understand the value of what you've got on board."
"Fake," Hawks accused, his voice shaky. "All sorts of Quirks that can replicate that."
Dabi raised an eyebrow, and fast-forwarded it.
"I'm going to bring four or five others with me at most. The heroes want me to bring another of the top ten along. I'm thinking I'll ask Mirko. She should be badly countered by your giant, and any other guards you put on."
Doko looked at Hawks, his eyes wide. "...How could they have faked it and gotten the hero you would bring exactly right?" He looked down at Mirko. "And it was your idea to come as a small force. Which wouldn't make any sense unless…"
"...Unless you wanted us to lose," Mirko growled, standing up.
"No," Hawks said, keeping his voice level. "Listen to me carefully. The Commission asked me to infiltrate the League. I didn't want things to come to this, but trust me…my allegiances lie with you. With the survival of hero society. At any cost."
"Any cost?" Dabi repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Including the lives of your allies?" He played the tape again, and this time it was his own voice.
"So what's the situation with you, then? Do you want us to attack you? Are you going to attack us? Are we allowed to kill the other heroes you bring?"
Then, from Hawks:
"Do whatever you want. I'll focus my energy on the giant and keep myself alive. If all goes well, all witnesses but me will be defeated and we can continue to get some use out of each other afterward."
"So you're really a free agent, then," Yamishiwa said. "Or a triple agent, perhaps? Whatever, it doesn't matter. In any case, you have no allies in this train car, Number Two."
"You were going to leave us to die!" Doko growled. "That's why you volunteered to stay outside the train!"
"But I'm here now, aren't I?" Hawks shot back. "Everywhere, this is exactly what they want. If you get too angry…"
"I know what happens if I get too angry. Don't presume to enter this situation like you have it all under control."
"I turned my back on the giant to come and help you," Hawks said.
"No, you came to fight me! I heard you at the beginning. You think I'm allied with my father. If you want a fight, I'll give you one."
"Everywhere!" Hawks called sharply. "Together, the three of us can take them…"
"Fuck that," Mirko spat. "If you wanted a clean advantage from the start, then you shouldn't have spun all these secrets behind my back. I don't care if you're working with the Commission or the League or what. No matter where your loyalties lie, your plan was to have me killed on this mission. And I don't fucking vibe with that."
Dabi was smiling gleefully. "Looks like your balancing act is finally toppling over, Hawks. And just so you know…I never trusted you at all. This is what happens when heroes try to push their noses in where they don't belong. This society is-"
Dark Shadow slammed into him from behind with a roar.
"HAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYAAAAAA!"
Doko's jaw dropped. Tokoyami bounded into the room, his Quirk filling the place with loud screams and shadowy swipes. Mina came behind, skating on her acid shoes.
Yamishiwa whirled. "Ah yes, the girlfriend…" He pulled up a black portal, and Mina swept up acid at it…
In that moment, Doko realized something. His father's weakness, the thing that made his Quirk not as good as Doko's own. His portals are made of physical matter. And…
…Mina can melt them?!
The portal dissolved as the acid struck it, and Yamishiwa stumbled backward in surprise. Mina closed the distance to him and punched him in the gut, knocking him back into a shelf.
The train car was chaos. Dabi shot fire from somewhere, creating a wall of flickering heat. Mirko hopped over it. Dark Shadow swept past, destroying another shelf.
BOOOM!
CRASH!
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!"
Doko turned in a circle, losing his bearings. Then…
The entire car shuddered, and the ceiling ripped off in a loud, screeching KRRRRRRRR.
Open air rushed out before them, the night sky zooming past up above.
The giant loomed down upon them, grinning. Mina screamed.
Doko was filled with grief and guilt and frustration. The entire mission had gone to shit. How were they supposed to fight that thing? He couldn't think of anything. No solutions.
Its fist was descending upon Tokoyami and Mirko. There was nowhere to run. If only…
If only Hawks had kept it occupied! But he came to accuse me of being a traitor instead, when he himself has been playing both sides this whole time…
Doko had never felt so failed in his whole life.
The distance from the fist closed.
He made up his mind.
I have to do this. Save everyone, and finish as much of the mission as we can. There were still intact Quirk packets in this train car, after all.
Doko slammed both his fists into the floor of the train, and activated Warp Field.
A shimmering, percussive blast erupted, washing over everything. Mirko and Tokoyami went flying out, then Mina, then all the Quirk equipment, falling to shreds. Pieces of the train went next. Then Hawks, then Dabi, then his father…
…But the giant was just too big. It stood its ground, the wave of Doko's Quirk passing right over it. It seemed to shimmer for a moment, closing its eyes and planting its feet, but then it was over.
The train car around Doko was completely destroyed. He looked up and met eyes with Gigantomachia. He's going to kill me now. At least everyone else got to safety.
Hawks flew up into the air, a tiny shadow passing in front of the giant like a fluttering moth. "Run, Everywhere!" he shouted with bravado…but his attack was unbalanced, and Gigantomachia grabbed him by the wings.
Doko gasped, but before he could see what happened next, the giant slammed a foot down right next to him. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
It was so loud and powerful that a blast of wind was swept up, and Doko was lifted off his feet, thrown off the broken train completely. His arms windmilled. He activated his braking shoes…
…And skidded against the cold grass of the outside valley. Once, twice, rolling backward much too fast. Then, his back slammed into a tree.
The last thing he saw was Gigantomachia picking up a few shapes of people, and placing them back onto the train. Then, the giant melted in a massive pile of goop.
The train chugged along forward, disappearing into the night.
They'd destroyed the High-Ends and all the doctor's stored Quirks, but the doctor himself had gotten away, as had the rest of his Nomu, and Shigaraki. The mission had failed.
Doko's eyes closed. He saw no more.
…
Hawks awoke woozily to the feeling of nothing but pain.
There was a foot atop his back. Or rather, what was left of it. There was this instant feeling of loss, as if part of himself was completely gone.
He was the Number Two hero for a reason. He knew instantly what had happened. The giant knocked me unconscious. And then Dabi burned my feathers away. I have no Quirk.
I am powerless.
The person standing on him had noticed him waking up. As it turned out, it was Dabi himself.
"Good morning, Keigo Takami," the scarred man said, grinning down on him.
How does he know my name? Hawks opened his mouth to ask, disbelieving, but nothing came out. In panic, he realized…he burned my throat, too.
Hawks knew what that meant. If they no longer had any use for his voice, that meant…
It's over. It's all over. It fell apart the moment I turned my attention from Gigantomachia to Everywhere and Yamishiwa.
It was ironic, wasn't it? Because he himself had been working as a traitor this whole time, it was so easy to suspect that the boy was the same…but it had never been the case. Hawks had fallen upon his own sword.
Behind Dabi were the other PLF commanders. It was daytime, and they were out in front of the mansion. Re-Destro was there, frowning down at him. Toga's yellow eyes were full of venom. Compress and Spinner stood a small ways back, refusing to look at him. And Twice…Twice…
"How could you, Hawks," Twice whispered. "I thought…I thought you really were one of us…"
"Never," said Dabi. "He never was." The man shook his head sadly. "And you want to know how I knew, Keigo Takami? How I knew that you weren't worth your salt? Because that's what I expect from all heroes. After all, my OWN real name is…"
He leaned in, and whispered in Hawks' ear. "Touya Todoroki."
Hawks' eyes widened. Impossible! It can't be! No, nonononononono…
But his throat was burned, and Dabi…Touya…knew it.
"I know what you're thinking," the eldest son of Endeavor continued. "You're thinking, how could they dispose of me now? They still need me if they want to win the war against heroes. And the answer to that is…yes. We need you for just one last thing." He looked back at the crowd of PLF members which was growing larger and larger.
Skeptic stepped forward, tapping on his computer. "The satellites are ready. The camera angle is such that they will not be able to figure out what building we are standing in front of. You should be bowing down to me, really."
"It's been an awful big help," Dabi told him, still grinning. And then…he looked forward, past Hawks…at a TV camera that was set up in front of them. Hawks' eyes widened. Oh no. They're all going to see…
"Everyone ready!" Skeptic looked back at the crowd. "Re-Destro, sir, step out of the camera angle. Anyone else that has a high-standing job, remain hidden! We're going live in three…two…one…"
"ATTENTION, PEOPLE OF JAPAN!" Dabi bellowed, a power coursing through his voice that Hawks never knew was possible. This is him in his element. How long has he been waiting for this moment?
"LOOK!" he pointed down at Hawks, and crushed him deeper into the dirt. "Behold, your number two hero, Hawks!"
The PLF members behind Dabi all laughed. Some of them booed and jeered and spat.
"You must be wondering! Oh, how did the League of Villains capture such a fast, upstanding, skilled hero! The shining golden boy of our society! How is this possible! Well, to tell the truth, we didn't capture him. He came to us willingly."
Then, came the long roll of footage. Recordings, audio recordings, all sorts of things…minutes upon minutes of it. Damning minutes. All showing Hawks around the mansion, interacting with villains, talking and laughing with them. Drinking coffee with them. Agreeing to kill for them. But I never did. I never did end up killing…
"And then, look at this!" Dabi pointed. "After leading the winner of the UA Sports Festival on a dangerous suicide mission, he ruthlessly attacked him!"
Footage of Hawks shooting a feather into Katayama's shoulder. Somehow, the footage had been edited to keep Yamishiwa out of it entirely. How? Hawks thought, despairing. No, this won't be enough. This can't possibly be enough to…
"Why did Hawks come to us? Well, maybe because he realized what the Commission is realizing. What all the heroes are slowly realizing. That this society is collapsing, Japan. It is unsustainable. The heroes do not fight for you anymore, the common citizen. They fight to secure their retirement funds and to feel good about themselves before the big storm comes. Hawks is just one of many. Their nature is to be secretive, to stab you in the back, to double cross and have ulterior motives and to hide things from you. Please think more critically! There is a war coming, and it will come to every single one of you. The heroes might claim to stand up and fight for you, but remember…the difference between our side and theirs, is that our side will be honest with you." Dabi smiled. "Keep that in mind when the battles start, and the destruction rends all about you. All about your family and friends and loved ones. Interrupting your peace and quiet. Still need convincing? Tune in soon, because I have more. More will come. There are still more secrets to be revealed, and when you find them out, you will never believe in heroes again. But first…"
Dabi looked down at Hawks. Hawks took as deep of a breath as he could with his throat ruined, knowing what was coming. Jeanist…I'm sorry. I failed you after all. No one is coming for you. If only he could send out some kind of last message on the television broadcast, letting someone…anyone, know. But he couldn't. There was no time, no more plots, no more tricks up his sleeve. The tricks up his sleeve had been what got him into this situation in the first place.
Hawks closed his eyes. Heroes, it's up to you now. Win. Prove them wrong. Finish it.
The blue fire came down upon him, and Keigo Takami breathed his last.