Rikiya Yotsubashi is not a man used to disappointment. Throughout his life, his father's followers have been at his beck and call, raising him to be a leader in the world. Gazing out the window of his office, the city of Deika stretched out below him, he stares more at his own reflection, and the woman standing behind him.
"So, you are certain? He is not that… thing?" he asks, lifting a flute of champagne and taking a sip.
Chitose Kizuki nods confidently, her blue skin and lilac hair unique in the more subdued color scheme of the Detnerat CEO's office. "Appearances aside, he was in our custody during the latest attack by the Villain Factory."
"Could it be a clone, or a copy?" the CEO of Detnerat inquires, scratching his chin, weighing the implications.
Curious steps closer. "That is possible. It might explain why his name is nothing but a number, telling us which one in the series he is. What we do know is, this one has a very different personality. Even more interesting, he has been reading from the provided library."
"Well, providing enlightenment to the misguided is part of our mission," Yotsubashi says, turning to look at her directly as he sets down the empty flute back on the tray, alongside a half dozen other empty glasses. "Have we determined why he was here?"
Curious picks up a folder and holds it open, reading. "I'm afraid not. Appearance aside, nothing else about him matches Six in any way. Any conjecture we could make based on the villain's actions simply does not appear to apply."
"Have you interviewed him?" Yotsubashi asks, quirking an eyebrow expectantly.
She nods her head, her hair freely framing the shape of her head as it moves. "Yes, but we have not learned anything interesting."
"Well, one could hope. So, what do you think of him?" the giant man asks.
She considers her words. "He had no personality at first. As he… absorbed the literature provided, he began to develop one. He now is as dedicated to our ideals as any other recruit, I would say. He has already surrendered the information on the organization which sent him, after all."
Re-Destro considers this, inaudibly mulling over several options to himself before making a decision. "Introduce him in a controlled environment. Let's test his loyalties."
"I thought it would be prudent to have Geten on standby when I visit him next, so why don't we have him serve as a supervisor for this… test?" Curious suggests.
"Prudent, yes," he agrees. "See to it."
"Yes, Re-Destro."
The leader of the Meta Liberation Army turns to stare out across his city once again. Glancing back at the sound of a throat being cleared, he sees her still standing there. "Was there something else?"
From the case set on the table next to her, she pulls out two more folders. "A relatively minor matter, but one you should have an interest in. Do you recall the Toxic Chainsaw attack outside Tokyo last summer?"
He nods curtly, recognizing that Curious is in one of her investigation moods. "Yes, what of it?"
"Well-l-l…" she drags out as she steps forward and hands one of the folders over to him. "While researching attacks by the Villain Factory after we captured our little doppelganger, I noticed something… interesting about one of the victims. Attached to his witness statement was, oddly, a report on his meta ability."
Looking through it, Yotsubashi mumbles quietly, "Broken bones due to his own muscles being augmented… stockpiled energy of… emotions? Curious? Is this what I think it is?"
"Yes," she says with a smile. "A meta ability almost identical in mannerism to your own, and your father's."
He considers. "Are we related? A Cousin, perhaps? I know I longed for family at his age."
"I'm sorry, no. Both of his parents have meta-abilities going back multiple generations. I'm afraid this may be a… less pleasant origin." She steels herself before informing the leader of the Meta Liberation Army, "According to that former sidekick for the Symbol of Peace, this boy was there when All for One died."
Handing the folder back, Re-Destro contemplates this a moment, his eyes wide in alarm. "So, this boy… may have…"
"Yes, he may have your father's ability," Curious completes the thought, her features now stoic and unsmiling.
Yotsubashi slams a hand to the window behind him, cracking it. "Stolen ability! Stolen by that monster! And the boy?"
"A simple middle school student. In fact, he goes to Aldera," she says, handing over another folder.
"Our recruitment school in Musutafu?" he says, opening up the new folder and finding a set of school records. He quickly pulls out the cover sheet and reads it. "Izuku Midoriya, huh? Good grades, solid understanding of his… my fathers… ability… he is listed as a promising recruit by his teacher. How accurate is this?"
Curious smiles. "I spoke to him directly when I collected the files. He says the boy has a talent for analyzing meta abilities. Practically worships them. Honestly, for anyone else to inherit the power of Destro, we could not pick a better candidate."
The leader of the MLA considers. "So, you want to make him into a symbol for us?"
"You know me so well," the journalist tells him, her smile widening broadly. "A young boy, discovering his abilities late in life, failed by the system. He would be eager, hopeful, and most of all pliable. The lies of society have not taken root. But, he is a bit young for any true exposure. Maybe once he is in high school."
Re-Destro nods, understanding. "No chance he is interested in support technology?"
"He has his heart set on heroics," she fills the man in. "He even is being mentored by Majestic."
He considers this a moment. "Follow which schools he applies to. We will make sure he is equipped with Detnerat support gear. And, his teacher…"
"Already has a book set aside for him," Chitose says.
Yotsubashi looks at the boy's face on the sheet, and makes a decision. "Could I meet the boy?"
"What do you mean?" she asks, confused.
He looks at the school name, and makes a decision. "Majestic has refused to go along with the so-called Hero Commission, if I recall correctly. Have we partnered with his agency?"
Curious shakes her head. "No. As they don't use many support items, he was listed as having low potential for cross promotion. What about this instead? Detnerat already sponsors the school, so why not join their opening ceremony next month? Sit in on his classroom for a day. It's long enough out that we can easily fit it in with your busy schedule."
"Huh," Re-Destro considers for a moment. "That could work, certainly. Yes, let's arrange it. What year is he going into?"
"Third."
He considers a bit more. "Work with our people inside the school to get profiles on his future classmates as well."
"As you wish," Chitose says, giving Re-Destro a salute, fingers in the signature L shape to her forehead.
Returning the salute, the leader of the MLA tells her, "Now go, get Geten, and find out what our 'guest' knows."
Left to himself, the man's sharp features strike a fierce silhouette in his shadow, cast across the elevator doors leading into the room. Casting his gaze once more to the city below, the lord of the land smiles to none but himself.
"What happened to him?" the man says within his parka, hidden features analyzing the man chained up in the other room.
With him, Curious tilts her head, taking in his appearance. "Why Geten… were you not informed? Our little Six clone now resembles Destro himself."
Inside the room, the figure who just yesterday was a spitting image of Japan's most wanted now resembled the portrait of the Meta Liberation Army founder hanging in front of him. Black hair now white, features sharper, the look in his eye now piercing, it wasn't a perfect copy, but close enough that they could be brothers.
The face of Geten is hidden in the folds of his hood as he speaks. "This is… terrifying on a level. Is this his ability?"
"One of them. Just one. His main ability is weather control," the woman swoons, the reason for her alias on full display.
Geten shudders, saying, "So, that's why you want me to help. I am able to control him if needed?"
"It will not be, trust me. Mister Nine here is as loyal as we are now." Stepping up to the glass, she presses the intercom button. "That painting is a personal favorite. I met the artist several years back for an interview."
The nameless man acknowledges her statement with a small nod.
"Now, it is obvious that you are not the man we thought you were. So, who are you?" Curious purrs.
He considers this a moment. "That depends on who you thought I was, I suppose."
"We don't know his name. He is only known as Six. You looked identical to him when we captured you," she explains.
The man shifts in place, returning to his previous appearance. "This, you mean? This is Rokku."
"Rokku? Is that his name?" the journalist asks, hurriedly writing the information down.
He considers. "It is a disguise he wears. His designation is Six."
"And your designation is Nine, correct?" she asks.
"Yes," he answers.
Curious bites at her pen slightly before asking the next question. "Do you have a name, like how Six is called Rokku?"
He considers it a few moments. "Call me Kugo."
Having his name was a victory for her. Now having a name for the enigmatic Six, that was a journalistic coup, one she is sure to capitalize on in the future.
But first, to handle her current guest.
"Of course, Kugo. Now, do you want to leave this room?" Curious asks, smiling to herself.
Kugo's eyes trace around the glass as he answers. "The Doctor gave me a mission."
"What was the mission?" she probes more, trying to pull out more information from the man.
His eyes show idle boredom as he reads off, "I don't care."
"Well, it would be a big help to us if we knew what the mission was," she purrs, already knowing the answer but testing his loyalty.
The man considers for a few moments, shifting back to his Destro-like appearance as he does so. "I was instructed to take q… meta abilities from the staff of Shoowaysha Publishing and return to the Doctor, who would then extract them from me."
"Like the Soul Stealer…" Geten murmured to himself before yelling into the intercom. "Don't you care about the people you planned to cripple?"
Kugo tilts his head slightly. "Now that I understand, I do. Back then I was… empty, seeking a purpose. The Doctor gave me one."
"It sounds to me that you have a new purpose. Tell me, Kugo, what is your purpose," Curious ponders as she asks. "What motivates you now?"
Picking up the now well read copy of Meta Liberation War, he says, "I understand now that the moment one enters this world, everything is already decided. There is a natural hierarchy, and society is at odds against that. Those with powerful meta abilities should be on top."
"Sounds like a true believer, to me, doesn't it, Geten?" Curious asks her companion.
He huffs in disapproval. "It is going to take more than platitudes for me."
"That's why we plan to test his loyalty. Kugo, one last question. How many like you are there?" Curious taps her pen against the pad as she speaks, an eagerness building up within her.
"I don't know. The Doctor called us a 'failed development path' and moved on with the new program," Kugo admits.
This makes both Curious and Geten look between each other in confusion. "New program? Can you describe this new program?"
"I do not know, I am sorry. All I do know is that it requires bodies, lots of bodies, and meta abilities for them," the man explains.
Geten puts things together quickly. "That's why you were sent out. You were the one to collect the abilities, weren't you?"
Kugo simply nods.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Kugo, if you don't mind, I will end the interview here." Curious steps back as Geten snaps off the intercom.
Following in her wake as they exit the room, the ice weilder grumbles, "He says he is loyal, but did not volunteer that information until prompted. We can't trust him."
"Whoever said anything about trust? He's not even a person. You should have been here when he described the vat he was created in. He's a tool, nothing more. And he's now in our hands," Curious purrs in delight.