Heroes Out of Time

by ninjastorm95

In a world razed by human foolishness, nuclear fire and deadly creatures, one young Japanese man awakens from the depths of a Vault. His class is frozen, his life stolen, and his oldest friend in the world taken right before his eyes. Watch out Commonwealth, King Explosion Murder is here. And he's pissed as hell.

1. Chapter 1

Fallout: Heroes out of Time

Chapter One

On Ice.

"Critical failure in cryogenic array. All residents, please evacuate in an orderly fashion."

Deep underground, farther down than one could imagine, an automated voice rang through the steel walls of the vault. Further in, large white pods sat in the chilled room, lined up in twin rows. Sitting opposite of each other, the occupants varied in appearance. Most looked human enough, though some had mutations that exceeded the standard human form. One had a raven's head while another had bright pink skin and hair. All of them were unconscious, frozen by the cryogenic array. Most were sleeping soundly.

Others...weren't asleep at all.

"All residzzzts, plcchhzz zzile in an orderly fashion."

Suddenly, one of the pods cracked open, it's occupant falling forward in a heap. The boy coughed and hacked, shivering uncontrollably. Steam rolled of him in waves from his quickened thawing. As soon as he caught his breath, he uttered one word.

"Deku…"

Katsuki Bakugo was having a shit day. Small explosions popped in his palms in an effort to warm up as he looked through the dark. His head was fuzzy...he couldn't remember much. They were on a trip...school trip maybe? He looked to the pods opposite his.

Unlike the others, it was open. Empty too. Bakugo furrowed his brow...then it hit him!

"DEKUUUU!" the boy howled. He jumped at the pod, searching for any clue to Midoriya's location. No dice. "DAMN IIIIT! I'LL KILL THEM!" He raised his palm, letting a large explosion loose! The empty pod crumpled under his power, charred. Bakugo took a few deep breaths, coughing a bit more from the suspended animation. Whoever took Deku was gonna pay. He looked at the pod next to his own. This one was sealed shut. He peered in…

"Todoroki?" He said in disbelief. Memories started to rush back. He, Todoroki, and Deku were training under Endeavor and had come back to U.A. with the others. They were all talking and...he couldn't remember anything beyond that. He looked to the next pod. Shitty Hair was here too! They must all be here!

Except the nerd.

He knocked on the frozen glass frantically before feeling around. "C'mon, c'mon! Release!" Finally, he pulled a lever.

"Cryogenic array: suspended."

Frost fell off the pod as heat poured from within, thawing the dual quirk user. Shoto slumped forward, nearly hitting the floor before Bakugo caught him. He set the other boy down, shaking him roughly. "Oy! Half-n-half! Wake up!"

Shoto stirred, his left side flaring up on instinct to fight the cold. Flames licked his features as he looked up. "...Bakugo?"

"Who else, idiot!" Katsuki yelled. "Shake yourself off, we're in deep shit right now." Todoroki blinked, rubbing the bleariness from his eyes. He slowly stood, recovering quickly thanks to his quirk. Bakugo was already working on the next pod, pulling the lever over and over.

"It's not working! Fucking work, dammit!" Katsuki screamed. Todoroki stared at the scene. Kirishima was in a pod! Just like he was...when...when the bombs…

Memories started to flood back to the boy. The bombs fell. Nuclear annihilation. The League of Villains. They were sent to the vaults to escape…

But he couldn't remember what happened next. Or how they ended up being put on ice. He shook his head. Now wasn't the time. He strode to the pod Kirishima was stuck in, putting a hand on the blond.

"Bakugo, stop."

"Don't touch me, dammit!" Bakugo slapped the hand away. "I'm trying to get this idiot out!"

"Bakugo," Todoroki pressed. "There may be a reason it's not opening. If we pull him out now, the shock from being instantly thawed could kill him. Let's find another way here."

Bakugo snarled, nearly snapping back. But come to think of it, Icyhot may have been able to handle it because of his quirk. Kirishima wouldn't be so lucky. He took a shaky breath. "...fine. How do we get them out?"

Shoto held a fireball up, both for warmth and light, and looked around. "There may be a terminal somewhere. If we can access it, we can safely revive our classmates. Is everyone from Class 1A here?"

"No…" Bakugo answered with a growl. "Deku's gone."

Todoroki's breath hitched. "What? What do you mean? Is he somewhere else in the Vault?"

"No…" Bakugo's eyes narrowed, filled with murderous intent. "He's not just somewhere else." His fists clenched in his rage. "He was taken."

xXx

Earlier...

"Cryogenic array: suspended."

The clicks of boots rang through the dark halls of the vault. Bakugo, from within his pod, stirred at the noise. His head was too foggy to realize immediately, but he saw everything.

He watched as a man walked right past his window, stopping in front of a frozen, green haired boy. There was a woman as well, in a hazmat suit?

"This is the one," the woman pointed at Midoriya. "Here."

The man pulled a revolver from his belt. "Open it."

Bakugo tried to sit up, but was too weak to raise his arm, let alone move. After a minute, the pod opened, revealing a coughing Izuku Midoriya.

"Cough cough...are...we safe?" the boy choked out. "Is it over?" The strange man spoke lowly, his weapon to his side.

"Almost, kid...everything's gonna be fine." He assured. Midoriya blinked out the sleep, noticing the woman getting closer.

With a syringe.

"Hey...what are you-GAH!" She injected him with something! Green lightning shot to life as he jumped out, knocking them both away in an instant. The vial was still in his neck as he prepared for battle, black tendrils bursting from his fists. The man leveled his gun...but it didn't matter. Midoriya stumbled to the side, the chems starting to take effect. One-for-All faded away as he fell backwards, hitting the floor with a clang.

"Dammit, get the kid out of here!" The man ordered, picking himself up. He walked right up to Bakugo's pod, surprised to see him awake. The bald man chuckled at the scared kid. "Heh...at least we have a few back-ups."

Bakugo fought at his restraints. He really, truly did. But as he faded back into stasis once more, he swore something. The one thing he knew he'd remember clearly.

He was gonna kill that bastard.

xXx

"He can't have gotten far." Bakugo figured. "If I hurry, I may be able to catch up!"

"Not quite," Todoroki interrupted. "We don't know how long you were out of commission. We don't even know how long it's been!" He argued, gesturing to the Vault's sorry state. "It's obviously been a while. We should-"

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO DAMMIT!" Bakugo roared. He jabbed a thumb at himself. "I'M FINDING THE EXIT TO THIS DUMB PLACE AND GETTING DEKU BACK! UNDERSTAND?"

Shoto grimaced. The best course of action would be to secure everyone else first. But if Midoriya is anywhere close right now…

"Fine. Meet us at the entrance after you find him." Shoto agreed. Bakugo didn't even comment on the order. He just blasted off to the exit.

"Now then," Shoto tapped at the terminal. It wasn't locked and had clear instructions. "Unlock."

Tap.

"All cryogenic arrays suspended. Have a nice day." The automated voice rang out. All 17 pods glowed with heat, slowly defrosting everyone else. After some more typing, he found that it would take a few minutes to defrost everyone properly. Shoto only survived because he was actually regulating his own temperature the entire time without noticing, so his sudden awakening hadn't affected him much. He felt his hair, now longer than it was before. Shoulder-length even.

"I suppose we aged a little bit in stasis" he supposed. "Hope everyone's ok…"

xXx

"Fuckin bugs!" Bakugo snarled, blasting away another radroach. The enlarged insects were disturbing, but nearly as much as the former residents of the vault. Skeletal remains littered the area as Katsuki made his way through Vault 111, making him shiver with disgust. He couldn't help wondering what had happened here. Why everyone was dead or how he even ended up here.

But that could wait. Finding the nerd came first.

He pushed another door open, leading into a sort of office. There were needles on the table, as well as a 10mm pistol. Bakugo ignored the weapon, as if I'd need it, he thought. The rest of the room was a mess. Papers and rubble were scattered everywhere along with the corpses. He found the next door and hit the button.

Bzzzz.

"Manual Overide initiated."

"Damn it, open!" He yelled. He smashed the button again.

"Manual Overide initiated."

"Fucking…" He cracked his knuckles and raised his arms. Pops and sparks flared to life as he braced himself.

"Die then!"

BOOOOOOOOM!

The reinforced door was tough, but gave way after a couple of well placed explosions. He stepped through the hole, finding the imposing exit. After dispatching more radroaches, he stepped up to the sealed, geared door.

"Tch…" He glared at the exit like it was mocking him. This thing was practically made to hold him in due to its original purpose. If the bombs really did fall, and it's still sealed, there's no way he could blast it open. He'd sooner destroy the rest of the vault with the firepower it would take. He looked back, seeing another door further on. Naturally, he hated the idea that he'd ever need help. But with the shitstorm they're in?

"They better be up already."

xXx

"So does everyone understand?" Shoto asked.

Fire flickered in everyone's terrified eyes as they sat around Todoroki. He did his best to not only warm everyone up, but fully explain their dire situation. And dire it was.

"So...is anyone else alive?" Hagakure asked, her voice tight. Shoto hung his head.

"No...no one else but us in the vault." He responded. No one said a word, too shocked to form a thought. Iida, to his credit, focused on ensuring everyone's safety; even going as far as asking Yaoyorozu to create blankets for everyone, to which she obliged at once. The whole class huddled together as Shoto briefed them on the situation. Mina cried harder than anyone while being comforted by Kirishima and Asui. Kaminari, among others, just stared ahead, shocked beyond words. Even Tokoyami, usually steadfast, held his head in his hands at the news.

Everything they ever knew...was gone. Dead. Forever.

And to lose Midoriya as well...not by nuclear fallout but kidnapping? Of all the ways to lose someone, this took the cake. Uraraka was especially quiet, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

It was a while until Iida finally spoke up. "We can't stay here" He announced. "Sooner or later, we'll need to leave this vault and assess the situation outside."

"Agreed" Momo replied, standing up. "Bakugo must have found the exit by now. We shou-"

BOOOOOOOM!

They all flinched at the loud blast from the front door. Speak of the devil.

"Hey nerds." Bakugo poked his head through the newly made hole in the door. "You done moping yet? The door won't budge and-"

"Done moping?" Mina snapped, her usually cheery demeanor gone. "Done moping? Everyone we know is dead! Our families are dead! And you're asking us if we're done moping?"

"Yeah, thought that was obvious." Bakugo deadpanned. "We're running out of time! So let's go-"

"Dude," Sero groaned. "Are you really doing this right now?"

"Yeah! I am!" Bakugo yelled. "Because there's one idiot who's not dead out there! And that's Deku!"

"Seriously Bakugo?" Kaminari yelled. "Your family's gone too! Or did you forget!"

"SHUT UP!" He roared back. A tear nearly formed in his eye, but he fought it back. "Of course I haven't! But the longer we sit around, the further Deku gets away! He was taken, you idiots! And I'm not letting that bald freak get away!"

"Can't you see we're hurting?" Mina demanded. "Don't you dare brush this off! Why don't you just-"

"No."

All heads turned to Uraraka, who finally looked up. Sad determination filled her eyes as she stood up.

"He's right. We can grieve later, but Deku's in trouble." She looked to Iida and Yaoyorozu. "You guys should stay here for now. I'll help Bakugo with the door and find Deku."

Iida looked like he was going to argue, but nodded. "Alright. Stay safe, watch each other's backs." Momo gave her something as well, a small radio.

"This should have enough range to cover all of Japan. Get in touch when you find something, ok?" Uraraka nodded, accepting the device.

"Thanks Yaomomo." She pocketed it and hopped up to Bakugo. "Let's get going."

"Hold it," He stopped her. "Dunce Face! Need you too!"

"What?" Kaminari cocked his head. "Why?"

"The door's out of power" He explained. "May need you too, Ponytail."

"Right." Momo replied. "C'mon Kaminari." Denki kept his glare, but followed anyway. With that, the four of them jogged to the entrance. Immediately, Momo began working on the controls next to the sealed door.. With no power, she cracked the dashboard open, pulling out the correct wires.

"Kaminari, hold these. Positive here, negative here."

"Got it." He took the wires, sparking with power from his quirk. The dashboard flared up, beginning diagnostics upon start up.

"Good, good...needs some kind of key…" she gaze fell to the skeleton beneath her. Gingerly, she picked up a strange wrist device. It had the matching part…

Meanwhile, Bakugo gave Uraraka a side-eye as they waited at the door. She had a weird look about her. Well...weird for her anyway.

"You better not slow me down" He warned.

"Please," she said without a glance. "If anything, we'll find him faster together. If I float both of us, we'll be able to travel way faster with your explosions." She clenched her fists tightly. "You're not the only one who cares about Deku, you know."

"I don't…" He started, but stopped himself. "Tch."

"Almost got it!" Momo called out, now wearing the connected Pip-Boy. "Kaminari, when I say, give it everything you got!"

"Got it!" He said, holding a bigger wire in his mouth. "I'm ready!"

Momo flipped the button open and hovered over it. "Ready Bakugo? Uraraka?"

"Just open it already!" The former raged.

"Roger! Kaminari, on three!" Momo put her hand on the button. "One...two…"

"Three!"

"10 MILLION VOLTS!" Denki screamed, sending a massive charge through the system. The machinery fired up, drilling into the sealed door, then rolling it to the side. Ahead, both heroes jumped onto the platform, which rose up to the surface.

"Good luck!" Momo called. "Find Midoriya!"

"Wheeeeeeyyy!" Kaminari garbled.

xXx

"C'mon everyone," Iida urged. "Let's just get out of this room at least." With some encouragement, the class rep led everyone else out of the cryo room. With Bakugo and Uraraka exploring the surface, it was best for the remaining class to stay below ground for now.

Everyone was trying to cope in their own way in the face of this tragedy. Aoyama already puked twice and Ojiro nearly bloodied his fist against the wall in his frustration. Shoto hung back with Tokoyami to hold back Dark Shadow, as his emotions were running too hot to be left alone. Shoji stayed as well for moral support. Asui did her part as well, staying as grounded as she could to support her classmates. But even she was showing signs of emotional fatigue. Even Mineta managed to make himself useful, exploring the vault to see what they could salvage while Koda and Sato helped. Jirou busied herself with Kaminari, now drained from using his quirk to kickstart the computer systems. Hagakure and Mina spoke in hushed tones, their sobs occasionally echoing through the underground.

As for Iida, he needed information. Some evidence, some rationalization for their new surroundings. After Yaoyorozu was done at the front, they both fiddled with the Overseers terminal.

"There! 'New arrivals'...that has to be us right?" Iida guessed. His guess was correct. "Why is everything in English anyhow?"

"Universal business language, perhaps." Yaoyorozu supposed. "Let's see…"

Overseers log: The test subjects didn't make it through stasis, not that we expected them to. But I'm willing to bet the hero students from Japan will have better luck than the Sanctuary Hills' residents. Their transfer wasn't easy, but we're making progress. I'm sure of it.

Their advanced physiology has gotten them this far, even without quirks that directly effect body temperature. My theory is…

"Where's...where's the rest of it?" Iida clicked back, looking at the other files. The very next one read "Mutiny". They clicked that one as well.

"How're things in here?" Todoroki asked, coming in to check on them.

"We...may have found out why we're here." Momo explained. Shoto's eyes widened as he rushed over.

"According to this…" Iida read aloud.. "the other residents of the vault rebelled against the overseer. They were expecting the All-Clear from outside but never got it. The overseer then locked everyone in and…" He stopped reading, his gaze turning to the 10mm pistol on the table. And the skeleton that once sat where he was sitting. "He killed them. For trying to leave the vault prematurely."

"That's horrible!" Momo said. Iida continued.

"Vault 111 was a secret project by Vault-Tec to test cryogenic stasis. When the bombs fell, people from a nearby town were collected and rescued from the radiation and put into stasis without their knowledge." Iida read. "But over time, the experiment failed, but they were given strict instructions not to interfere, even to administer life-saving measures."

Shoto grit his teeth angrily. "So Vault-Tec used innocent people, let them die, and shot anyone who tried to defy the order."

"It's sick." Iida proclaimed. "But it doesn't explain how we got here. It only says that we were transferred from elsewhere. No one seems to remember anything either."

"But look here" Momo pointed to the screen. "'Sanctuary Hills'? I've never heard of that place."

Shoto narrowed his eyes. "Click there, that file." Iida obliged, pulling up the first entries.

"There!" Shoto pointed. "Is that…?"

Sanctuary Hills, Concord. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

xXx

Uraraka held her hand up as the morning light poured in from above. The two rose up to a mountainous surface, surrounded by...well...death. Both she and Bakugo were taken aback by the sight of the wasteland. Not just the human remains, but the land itself was perverted by radiation. The vegetation was brown and dead. Anything remotely living was horribly mutated. Everything was destroyed by the fallout. But the one thing that caught their attention was great cause for alarm.

"This isn't Japan." Bakugo stated.

Uraraka nodded at the obvious. In the distance, there was a large billboard, standing in contrast with its bright blue colors. Uraraka didn't know much English, but she recognized "Vault-Tec" well enough. But if the only sign for miles was in English…

"We're somewhere in North America!" Uraraka exclaimed. "Forget the vault, how did we end up overseas?"

"Who knows…" Bakugo muttered. This was a problem. He had a chance if he knew the general area, but the geography was completely alien to them both. For all they know, Midoriya was all the way back in Japan!

He tapped his chin. No, the kidnapper spoke English before. He recognized the accent too. American? Deku's here. Somewhere.

"Hey...is that a town down there?" Uraraka pointed down the hill to a neighborhood. "Maybe we'll find some clues down there, then we'll have a start if nothing else."

"Hmph...fine. Try and keep up." Without warning, he blasted himself downhill, hopping from rock to rock on his way down. Uraraka grumbled, floating herself to make her way down. They both flew respectively to town, searching for any signs of Deku. Nothing so far…

"I say! A flying man!"

Uraraka jerked her head down, spotting a glint of metal. A robot! "Bakugo! Wait a moment!" She released her quirk, sprinting to the machine. "It's one of those Mr. Handy things!" Bakugo soon followed, landing right in front of the robot.

"Good lord, my boy!" The robot exclaimed in English. "You keep that behavior up, you shall be answering to Mrs. Edward's for disturbing her petunias!"

"Uh...nani?" Bakugo deadpanned.

"Er, sorry but we don't speak English" Uraraka explained, to which Bakugo scoffed.

"Maybe you don't speak English, Pink-Cheeks." He sneered.

"I see!" The robot responded, now in Japanese. "I can't say Sanctuary Hills has ever had foreign visitors before! Or any visitors lately, for that matter."

"Um...right." Uraraka started over. "Who are you again?"

"Ah yes, hello! I am known as Codsworth, madam. Here to serve." Codsworth himself was quite interesting to Uraraka. He had a bulbous head with three distinct eye stalks and three appendages. He hovered by using a small rocket affixed to his underside. Kind of cute, she thought.

Bakugo had no such concerns. "We're wasting time. We're looking for someone who's been stolen. Green hair, freckles, and a dumb face. Seen him?" Uraraka pouted at that last description.

"Oh dear. I'm sorry to say, but I haven't seen anyone of that description pass through here." Codsworth said to their dismay.

"Please!" Uraraka pleaded. "You must have seen someone! Anyone from the vault up the hill!"

"I am very sorry, miss," Codsworth said. "But I'm afraid you two are the first to set foot here for the last 200 years. It's been quite boring, you know." Both teens stepped back in shock. 200...what?

"Damn it, this thing's broken!" Bakugo snapped. "200 years? That's insane!"

"A bit over 210, actually" Codsworth corrected. "And I'm not broken! General Atomics made me better than that! That would make my master...two centuries late for dinner! Ah hahaha!"

The two heroes gave each other a look. What even?

"Um...Codsworth?" Uraraka asked. "I don't mean to pry but...are you feeling alright?"

"Just fine, madam! Why do you ask?"

"You're just acting…" She struggled to find the right word.

"Loony?" Bakugo suggested. "Off your rocker? Crossed a wire?"

"...weird." She corrected. "What's wrong?"

"I...I...I…" If a robot could start sobbing uncontrollably, that is what Codsworth was doing. "It's been so horrible! 200 years! With no one to talk to! No one to serve!" The robot kept sobbing for a bit, prompting Uraraka to reach out, patting the Mr. Handy bot.

"Shh...it's ok…" she comforted him, careful not to touch the rusty parts. Codsworth tried to keep talking, but broke down more synthesized tears.

"What even…" Bakugo stared at the bizarre sight. What kind of robot has an emotional breakdown?

"I spent the last...ten...years waxing the floors! Radioactive fallout just doesn't come out of vinyl! And the car! How do you polish rust?" Codsworth asked in distraught.

Bakugo pinched the bridge of his nose, just keeping his temper on lock. "Just...could you focus for a minute?"

"Sniff, you right sir. My apologies." Codsworth replied. "The bombs came and everyone left in such a hurry. I've been alone ever since."

"Poor thing" Uraraka cooed. "Are you sure there's no one else? No one else is alive?"

"Well, there is Concord miss." Codsworth said. "The people there have only shot at me a few times."

Bakugo slammed his fist into his palm, causing an explosion. "Finally!"

"Hold on...they shot at you?" Uraraka asked worriedly.

"Yes mum, quite rude if I do say so myself."

"Hmm…" Uraraka hummed in thought. "Concord it is then. But we need backup." She pulled out the radio Momo gave her, turning it on. "Yaomomo? Come in."

"ZzzzUraraka? Are you alright?" Momo replied.

"We found a robot out on the surface. He says there are people living in a town nearby, but are hostile. Armed too." Bakugo tapped his foot impatiently as Uraraka spoke. "We need backup if we're going to head down to town."

"Understood. No sign of Midoriya?"

"No, not yet." She sighed. "You're not gonna believe this, but we're not in Ja-"

"-not in Japan. We know, we're actually in Massachusetts, USA." Momo cut in. "We're trying to find out what we can through the computer system. We'll send backup immediately. What kind of help do you need?"

"Bakugo, what do you think?" Uraraka asked. Katsuki scoffed.

"They got guns, right? Send Shitty Hair and Sonic!" He yelled into the radio. "And hurry up!"

"I'm on my way too." Todoroki said coolly through the device. Katsuki snarled at the radio but Ochaco spoke instead.

"Good, we'll need all the help we can get." She thanked.

"Copy. Iida, Kirishima, and Todoroki are en route. Stand by."

Bakugo huffed and stalked off to stretch. At least they were fighting soon, he'll blow off steam then. Uraraka turned to their metal friend.

"Codsworth, our other friends are still in the vault and will be out soon. Can you meet them when they come out? Take care of them?"

"Absolutely, miss Uraraka!" Codsworth said cheerfully. "I shall attend to their every need! It's what I live for!"

"Thanks, Codsworth'' Ochaco smiled. "If we're gonna survive out here, we'll need to stick together. Right Bakugo?"

"Says you, dipshit." The boy growled. "Chrome Dome, how do you get to Concord?"

"Pardon sir, but my name is Codsw-"

"Don't care. Answer the question." The robot huffed at his rudeness.

"Up the road that direction. You'll pass the Red Rocket gas station on the way. Though, you may be able to find it from the air given your abilities."

"Then we know where to go," He prepared to launch himself when Ochaco grabbed his arm.

"Wait! The others are coming, just wait a minute-"

"They'll catch up, dumbass!" He argued. "Let's go already!"

"Not until they get here!"

"Dammit, I said not to slow me down!"

"I'm not, I'm keeping you alive!" Uraraka shot back. "You may not be able to take them all by yourse-"

"THE FUCK I CAN'T BITCH!" He roared, smacking her hand away. "I'M SAVING THAT NERD WHETHER THEY GOT GUNS OR NOT!"

"WILL YOU JUST LISTEN TO ME?" She yelled back. "You're not alone here! We're a team! All of us!"

The two stared each other down, neither budging an inch. Even Codsworth backed up at the outburst. The radiated air grew thick with tension.

"Hey Bakugo! Uraraka!" Both turned to see the new voice. Reinforcements have arrived.

"Kirishima! Good to see you!" Uraraka waved at the trio. Todoroki and Iida followed as they ran down.

"Took ya long enough!" Bakugo raged.

"Good to see you too, Bakubro!" Kirishima laughed. "So where're we going?"

"Indeed!" Iida asked. "I assume you have a plan?" Bakugo crossed his arms mockingly.

"Of course I do!" He pointed to the nearby city. "We go there, kill everything in our way, and search for the nerd!"

Iida just stared for a moment before looking at Uraraka.

"Is that really the plan?" He asked, prompting an outraged "HAH?" from Bakugo.

"It really is." Ochaco confirmed. "By the way, this is Codsworth. He helped us get our bearings here."

"Cheerio!" The robot greeted, earning some raised eyebrows.

"Enough chatting!" Bakugo snapped. "Everyone's here, so let's go already!"

"Hold it" Todoroki raised his hand. "If the kidnappers were able to breach the vault at all, why would they stay in Concord?" Everyone looked at him as he thought aloud. "If they're smart enough to pull that off, then they're not dumb enough to stay so close to the vault."

Bakugo growled impatiently. "Where else could they have gone then? Everything's dead!"

"Not necessarily." Shoto argued. "If there are people alive in this town, then there must be more out there."

"And if it's really been 200 years since the bombs," Iida continued. "Then any manner of life could have sprung up in that time. New cities, New civilizations!"

"And new hiding places…" Bakugo realized. He stopped to look at the ruined world. The landscape went for miles and miles, with scattered buildings and overpasses dotting his vision. He could even see the watertower for Concord, with the town not too far away.

Wherever Deku was...he was completely, totally out of his reach.

Then, in a truly un-Bakugo like fashion, he plopped to the ground, startling the others. "He could be anywhere by now." He put his head in his hands. His stupid...useless hands…

Uraraka wasn't doing well either, but seeing Bakugo of all people deflate? That wouldn't do. She sat next to the boy.

"Look at me."

Bakugo thought about refusing, but was too tired to even respond. He looked at his classmate. Though tears were brimming in her eyes again, she kept her determined gaze, looking right into his. She made him a promise.

"We will find him." She looked up to the others. "Whatever it takes, right?" Iida gave a silent nod while Todoroki looked on to Concord. Kirishima sat on Bakugos other side, gripping his shoulder.

"Whatever it takes." Eijiro agreed. "But we need a plan. Guys?" He directed their attention to their class rep. Iida took a moment to think, then decided.

"We set up here, in Sanctuary." Iida pointed to the ruined houses. "These buildings are still usable, but will need work. With all of us working together, we should be able to hold our own here."

"But...what about Deku?" Ochaco asked.

"He's our top priority," Iida answered. "But we'll never find him like this. We need to recover our strength, make allies and gather information." He looked out to the neighboring city. "Hopefully we'll find someone who can help. We'll rest and recover for now, and get our strength back."

"I've got plenty," Bakugo spat, grunting as he shakily stood up. "Give me a direction, Four-eyes!" Uraraka smiled slightly. At least he was getting his energy back.

Iida nodded. "You'll be spearheading the search for Midoriya. But we need you at your best when we set out to find him. Are you at your best right now?"

Bakugo wanted to argue. He wanted to kick, scream and blast everything to hell. But right now, his knees were shaking under his weight. And his arms were trembling from using his quirk so much after his awakening. He took one step, then another.

And would have fallen, if Kirishima wasn't there to catch him.

"Take it easy bro," He said as he held him up. "Let's sit down ok?"

"Fucking...fine." Bakugo panted out. He was not at his best. His exhaustion had finally caught up to him, both physically and emotionally. Not to mention the atrophy. "Rest first...then Deku…" Kirishima managed to guide his descent as he passed out, resting him on the irradiated ground.

"Here" Shoto helped prop the boy up. "Let's get him under cover so he doesn't get sunburned. Uraraka?"

"On it." She floated Bakugo with a touch of her hand, allowing Kirishima to carry the boy to a ruined house. Every house was a wreck, but some were still stable enough to live in for a bit. They found a thick rug to lay Bakugo on, setting him on the concrete under the patio roof. As Kirishima and Uraraka tended to their friend, Iida radioed Momo again.

"Yaoyorozu, we've secured an area to settle down just outside the vault. It's partially destroyed, but habitable" he reported. "Once we secure ourselves here, we'll make our way to Concord."

"Understood. What about Bakugo?"

"Out cold. He's fine, just exhausted like the rest of us. What about everyone else?"

"Kaminari and I managed to fix the back-up generator down here. We should be able to send everyone else up within the next few minutes" she replied. "How habitable is the outside?"

Iida frowned and looked around. "Honestly, it doesn't look great. There's bound to be trace radiation in the water and I doubt anything normal can grow here. But there are signs of life, believe it or not." He spotted some birds flying overhead and thought he saw some kind of deer over the hills. "There are animals here, which means they must have found a way to survive. We'll know more once we explore a bit more."

Yaoyorozu sighed on the other end. "As I suspected. We'll just have to eat and drink what we can. We'll also bring up all the food we can from down here."

"Food?" Iida asked. "After so long?"

"Canned goods, mainly. I don't like it either, but there's no room to be picky."

"Yes, you're right." Iida agreed. "Bring what you can, we'll talk more when we're settled. Iida out." He made to turn the radio off, but turned the wrong dial. "Ah. For goodness...how does this work aga-"

"zzzcchhour listening to Diamond City Radio. If...if you're...listening at all, I mean…"

Iida nearly dropped the device. As soon as he changed the channel, a new voice rang out!

"A-anyway, here's the uh...what is it...there! The uh, the Wanderer! That's right...uh, stay safe! I guess…" And just like that, classic American music came through. Like it was 1950 all over again.

"Iida?" Kirishima asked from inside. "What is it?"

"Some kind of radio station!" Iida exclaimed. "Radio...Diamond City...there are people! Real people near here!"

There was hope after all.

xXx

That night, around the campfire…

"Is everyone ready?" Iida asked the group. Class 1A were grouped around the area, all sitting in various positions around the ruined houses. Yaoyorozu was eating ravenously from using her quirk so much. She protested at first and it was a drain on their provisions, but in exchange for radios, sleeping bags, and a small water purifier, half their food supply was a fair exchange. No one complained.

Bakugo, now rested, ripped through the Radstag steak he and Kirishima hunted down for the group. It wasn't much for 19 people, but better than nothing. The meat was distributed evenly, sans Momo and Koda, between everyone. The canned goods were...less than tolerable, but Codsworth had helpfully pointed out some leftover crops that they used for a small stew. The corn was purple and the potatoes were bright red, but they tasted somewhat the same. Todoroki tended the fire as the stew boiled deliciously, with Asui stirring carefully. As for Iida, he stood up straight, addressing everyone.

"As you all know, we have found ourselves in a terrible and shocking situation" he began. "I myself still can't quite comprehend what has transpired. We have truly lost...everything." He bowed his head down, blinking back tears. He thought of his mother, father, Tensei…

He looked back up, stern. "But we cannot lose hope. We lose hope, then we surely won't survive. We have lost our homes...our families...our lives!"

"But all the same, we still have one thing!" He held his fist up. "Each other! As long as we lean on each other, we will not succumb! Together, we will survive!" He shouted. His words reached the class's ears, slowly lifting their despair. "Together, we will not only survive, but thrive in our new surroundings! We're Class 1A, after all!"

"But," Asui piped up. "U.A. has to be gone too. Is there even a Class 1A anymore?"

"That depends on us." Iida answered. "Whether we're a class, a group, a team, it doesn't matter anymore! What counts is that we're a family! And families stick together!"

"Right!" Mina cheered. Others held the sake sentiment. Healing would take time, but the process has begun for most everyone.

"Which is why," Iida continued "We must do everything we can to find Midoriya. Wherever he is, by any means necessary." He gestured to Bakugo, who stood up from his meal. "Bakugo, if you would."

"Yeah." He grunted, taking the floor. "Listen up, and I'm only gonna say all this once." He took a deep, steadfast breath. "First things first.. We're looking for two perps. The first one is bald and has a scar on his left cheek. Leather clothes with a metal brace on his arm. Uses some kind of sidearm. He's old too, 40s or 50s by my guess. The second will be tougher to find, white hazmat suit with red outlines. Female. Though they could have ditched the suit after the fact."

"Anything else about them?" Momo asked, recording the details on her new Pip-boy. "Any idea why they might have taken Midoriya?"

"...yeah." Bakugo put his hands on his hips. "I can think of one. That's the other bit I need to tell you all…"

No point in keeping the secret now.

"It all starts with All Might…"

And he told them. Everything. Everything about All Might. Midoriya. One-for-All.

How All-for-One ruled the world so long ago. How he created One-for-All by accident. How All Might eventually defeated at the expense of his health. How he gifted his power to Midoriya just before school started. What Blackwhip really was. The quirks that were next for him to develop.

How he was destined to succeed All Might as the World's Greatest Hero.

He was interrupted a couple times while he explained, it was unbelievable! But they were quickly hushed by his sharp gaze. Basically, Midoriya was easily the most powerful member of their class, outstripping even All Might in raw power.

"And...that's why he could've been taken." Bakugo finished. He finally paid attention to his audience, surrounded by gaping mouths and wide eyes.

"QUIT LOOKIN AT ME LIKE THAT, DAMMIT!" He raged. "And I don't lie about shit, so don't ask!"

"That...explains much…" Todoroki whispered.

"Right?" Sero exclaimed. "That's why he hurt himself so often at the beginning of the year! He wasn't used to it yet!"

"All that power…" Tokoyami mused. "It's a miracle he could control it at all."

"And to be quirkless on top of that…" Momo murmered. "Unbelievable."

"Anyway, how do you know?" Uraraka asked. "He never told us."

Bakugo scoffed. "Of course not! He couldn't just tell anyone he could give away his power if he wanted!" he explained. "I know because I knew him before U.A! Bastard's easy to read."

"Wait, when did you find out?" Kirishima asked. "After...Shigaraki?"

Bakugo glared, but nodded. "That's what that fight was about. More or less, anyway."

"That makes sense...it also explains why you claimed he was quirkless at the beginning of the year." Iida put it together.

"Because he was quirkless." Bakugo rubbed his forehead. "During Middle School anyway. Before the slime villain."

"So whoever took Midoriya may be trying to steal or use his power in some way?" Momo asked. "It seems impossible, but the fact that it can be transferred at all speaks volumes. It's not much further a leap to take it by force. Or use him as a sort of weapon."

"Either way," Bakugo interrupted. "We have to take him back before it's too late. So, listen up, runts!" He beat his chest. "Four-eyes is putting me in charge of finding the nerd! But we can't all go traipsing across Boston, so I need a small team to come with me. Who's in?"

Uraraka was the first to step up. No surprise there, but it was a solid minute before anyone else raised their hand. Kirishima gave him a toothy grin.

"Where you go, I follow bro" He announced, sharpening his arm in earnest. Bakugo nodded, waiting for more volunteers.

"I'll come too." Jirou stood up as well. "You're gonna need some recon along the way."

"Good" Bakugo grunted. "Any other takers?"

"Count me in." Shoto called from his seat at the fire. "Midoriya's as good as found."

"Actually," Iida interjected. "You and Bakugo are our heaviest hitters. We need you to stay on defense here in case of an emergency."

Shoto pursed his lips, but complied. Iida was right; he, Bakugo and Tokoyami were the strongest by far in 1A. While everyone was strong in their own ways, Todoroki was especially powerful at range, and could create ice walls for better defenses.

So who else should go?

"If I am not needed here," Tokoyami said. "Dark Shadow and I will gladly assist."

"Aye!" The spirit popped out of the boy's back, thumbs up. Bakugo nodded his approval. Birdbrain's ranged and defensive skills made for decent coverage. The squad was perfect.

"Good, the Midoriya Rescue Squad is as follows: Bakugo, Uraraka, Kirishima, Jirou, and Tokoyami." Iida counted out. "If somewhere along the way you need help, let us know. But remember, you five will be on your own out there. This world is dangerous in ways we just don't know yet" he warned. "So be careful. As for the rest of us, we'll fortify this area to the best of our ability. That's where Yaoyorozu takes point."

"Right, everyone listen for your name." Momo pulled out a small list. "Ashido, Sato, Sero, Kaminari, and Mineta. You all will work with me to rebuild and fortify Sanctuary Hills. Our priority for now will be making the area habitable as a base of operations. Understand?" The aforementioned students gave various noises of agreement.

"As for the remaining few," Iida interjected. "Aoyama, Asui, Ojiro, Koda, Shoji, Todoroki, and Hagakure, you'll assist me with defense and reconnaissance. Our focus will be to directly defend Sanctuary from potential threats. We will work in shifts to ensure 24 hour security at all times. Additionally, as the fortification squad finishes, we'll have more manpower to scope out and explore the wasteland." Iida cleared his throat. "Does everyone understand their role going forward?"

Nods and grunts of approval answered from the group.

"Excellent. We're not done yet, Class 1A! Bring it in!" Iida invited. Everyone stood up to form a clumsy circle, putting one hand in (even Bakugo). "On three! One, two, three!

"PLUS ULTRA!"

xXx

Underground…

The light of a computer screen illuminated the dark office later that night, bouncing off a pair of elderly green eyes. The video footage from his scouts only served to confirm what he already knew. After all, he was the one who released young Katsuki in the first place.

He didn't expect Bakugo to be with the rest of them. All records indicated he would sooner abandon his class to pursue Kellogg. But alas, he was surprised by the solidarity. Through the eyes of the synth scout, he saw the entire class cheering together as a team. A smile flitted across his aged face, then vanished.

"No matter, let's see what you do, old friend" he muttered.

xXx

S.P.E.C.I.A.L STATS

Bakugo: 1

Strength 5: Because Christ-Almighty, this kid hits hard.

Perception 5: Been shown to be quite perceptive, the Demolition Expert perk is a boon as well.

Endurance 4: Middle of the road here, as he focuses on attacking first and dodging attacks.

Charisma 1: Look at this kid and ask yourself if he's charismatic.

Intelligence 6: Been shown to be quite intelligent, if his grades are any indication.

Agility 6: Is incredibly agile with his quirk and in general.

Luck 1: Because who needs it when you have skill.

Todoroki: 3

Strength 3: Sure he works out, but his power is mainly energy based, not hand-to-hand.

Perception 4: Perceptive enough to know Midoriya works with All Might, but not enough to know he's not his secret love child or something.

Endurance 6: He can take a real beating (sorry not sorry) and is in good shape given his training.

Charisma 3: "If I smile...they'll die?" Also enough for Lone Wanderer perk.

Intelligence 5: Fairly smart, ranking high in grades and can figure things out easily enough.

Agility 4: Again, training and maneuverability come into play.

Luck 3: Lucky to have met Midoriya?

Uraraka: 4

Strength 6: Zero-gravity means greater carry-capacity, as well as the Strong Back perk. Also Gunhead Martial Arts. Girl's a savage.

Perception 2: Never noticed that Deku likes her back. Smh

Endurance 3: Fair, but could improve.

Charisma 5: Good-natured and friendly, good qualities for charisma.

Intelligence 3: Not dumb, but not the smartest in the class either.

Agility 5: Gunhead, and making yourself weightless has its advantages.

Luck 4: Came from near poverty to go to UA, pretty lucky if you ask me. Penny-pincher, too.

Iida: 3

Strength 3: Fairly strong, but not his only quality.

Perception 2: Yeah...idk. There's a difference between Intelligence and Awareness.

Endurance 5: This guy can RUN. And higher endurance helps him handle the Gs of turbo speed.

Charisma 6: High enough for the Local Leader perk and is the class rep.

Intelligence 5: Is quite book-smart.

Agility 4: Wanted it to be higher, but sneaking isn't his style anyway.

Luck 3: Not unlucky, just not a huge trait.

Yaoyorozu: 10 4 3

Strength 4: Fairly strong, also enough for the Blacksmith perk.

Perception 2: Same deal as Iida, lacks battlefield awareness at the start of the series.

Endurance 3: Is fairly fit.

Charisma 2: Lacks people skills from rich upbringing.

Intelligence 10: Holy shit. Calculating the exact composition of an object to create them at any given time? 10/10.

Agility 4: Fairly agile.

Luck 3: Not unlucky, but Intel needed room.

Kirishima: 1

Strength 7: Hits like a truck when he wants to. Rooted perk, eventually.

Perception 3: Not his best quality, but whev.

Endurance 8: Can get hit by a truck and still ask for more. Unbreakable and all that.

Charisma 5: So freakin manly.

Intelligence 3: Not dumb, but not the smartest either.

Agility 1: Lack of mobility is something that's referenced a lot here.

Luck 1: My man worked for what he's got, no luck involved.

Kaminari: 9

Strength 3: Eh, doesn't need it.

Perception 3: Isn't terribly focused.

Endurance 4: Fair, and can resist energy attacks.

Charisma 5: Is lively, loves people.

Intelligence 1: Lmao. Literally his one thing. Dead last in grades.

Agility 4: Not bad, and isn't bad in combat.

Luck 9: Honestly surprised he's made it this far, also Idiot Savant works wonders with next to no Intel. Literally Kazuma.

Sero: 3

Strength 3: Fairly strong, but not that much.

Perception 5: Little higher here, situational awareness helps when swinging around after all.

Endurance 3: Same with Strength.

Charisma 4: Just has that feel.

Intelligence 3: Smarter than Kaminari, but just barely.

Agility 7: Practically a staple in his fighting style and quirk. Moving Target perk is perfect for him.

Luck 3: Fair, but not amazing.

Ashido: 3

Strength 5: Is quite strong and athletic without her quirk, able to close the distance and strike hand-to-hand.

Perception 2: Maybe this should be higher, but her Perception isn't always the greatest.

Endurance 6: Again, very athletic. Additionally, her quirk provides a series of advantages with defence. Her Acid Man technique makes for good defenses while her acidic abilities make her resistant to chems and alcohol, giving her the applicable perks. Radiation Resistance may be in the works as well.

Charisma 7: Life of the party and very sociable. Party Girl perk could come into play.

Intelligence 1: Just slightly smarter than Kaminari. Not a great bar, tbh.

Agility 5: She's a dancer and her quirk makes for quick movements. Not much else to tell.

Luck 3: Decent amount of Luck.

Tokoyami: 3

Strength 3: Dark Shadow himself is strong, but these stats are for Tokoyami. And he doesn't have the brute strength other members of his class possesses.

Perception 7: High perception given his astute reasoning and battlefield awareness. Also allows for Night Person perk.

Endurance 3: Not weak, but not the most fit either.

Charisma 4: Has his moments of wisdom and inspiration, but is more of a loner.

Intelligence 4: Is fairly smart.

Agility 4: Not that great on his own, but Black Fallen Angel really boosts it from where he started.

Luck 3: Average luck.

Shoji: 5

Strength 5: Shoji's main method of attack is physical hand-to-hand. His many arms add to his prowess as well.

Perception 7: His ability to detect anything within 360 degrees with his many eyes and ears gives him remarkable perception and situational awareness.

Endurance 4: Has fair endurance given his regeneration abilities, but has its limits.

Charisma 2: Has an intimidating figure, so it can be difficult to reassure others.

Intelligence 3: Fair.

Agility 2: Not exactly subtle or good at hiding.

Luck 5: Increased perception can make for increased critical hits and good fortune.

Hagakure: 4

Strength 1: Not physically strong.

Perception 7: Refractor perk and good for surprise attacks.

Endurance 2: Not amazing in physical tests.

Charisma 5: Bubbly and friendly, not unlike Ashido.

Intelligence 2: Not really the brightest.

Agility 7: Her ability to sneak is unmatched with her quirk. Ninja and Sneak perks.

Luck 4: Decent luck.

Aoyama: 2 1 6

Strength 2: Nope.

Perception 10: Perfect 10 here, allows for Refractor, Sniper, and Penetrator perks given his long range abilities.

Endurance 2: Also nope. Using his quirk hurts his stomach too much for this to be any good.

Charisma 5: Decently charming.

Intelligence 2: Placed 18th in the written exams and isn't all that bright despite his sparkle.

Agility 2: He simply cannot stop twinkling, and therefore can barely sneak. (Dabi being the exception to the rule).

Luck 6: Decently high luck, good critical hits.

Koji: 4

Strength 4: Big, burly, but average.

Perception 4: Decent, can be higher with bugs acting as scouts.

Endurance 4: Average.

Charisma 5: Can be shy, but has affinity with animals given his quirk. Animal Friend perk.

Intelligence 4: Decent.

Agility 3: Not terribly agile.

Luck 4: Decent.

Mineta: 5

Strength 1: Small and weak. Sorry.

Perception 3: Average, needs precision to throw his balls accurately.

Endurance 2: Small and weak, but knows how to survive at least.

Charisma 1: I don't think Mineta could convince a Brahmin to shit in a field.

Intelligence 6: Is actually quite intelligent.

Agility 3: Not amazing due to his small stature, but hiding seems to work OK.

Luck 5: Fairly lucky.

Ojiro: 2

Strength 6: Martial Arts combined with a thick, powerful tail makes for some devastating strikes.

Perception 3: Fair.

Endurance 4: Important, but not his strongest point.

Charisma 3: Fair.

Intelligence 4: Fair.

Agility 6: Quite agile given his quirk and training, Moving Target perk.

Luck 2: Eh.

Sato: 3

Strength 9: The most physically strong member of the team. Shoji might be stronger in the anime, but he's a bit more balanced than Sato is. Strong Back and Rooted perks, eventual Pain Train.

Perception 2: Who needs perception when brawling is your style?

Endurance 6: Powerful endurance, but is susceptible to sugar crashes.

Charisma 3: Average.

Intelligence 2: His quirk, Sugar Rush increases Sato's physical power while decreasing his intelligence. During Sugar Rush, his Strength and Endurance stats increase by one each while Intelligence is decreased by 1. Too bad he's not too smart to begin with.

Agility 3: Average, slow bruiser.

Luck 3: Average.

Jirou: 3

Strength 3: Average, but is no powerlifter.

Perception 6: Advanced awareness due to hearing quirk, better at picking locks thanks to this ability, granting Lockpicking perks.

Endurance 3: Fair.

Charisma 4: Can be shy, but music has a way of moving hearts.

Intelligence 4: Fairly sharp.

Agility 5: Earphone Jack was a tremendous quickdraw advantage, granting the Action Girl perk. Sneaking is easier too.

Luck 3: Fair.

Asui: 3

Strength 5: Mutant quirk provides greater physical prowess.

Perception 3: Wish it could be higher, but 3 is still decent.

Endurance 5: Aqua Girl perk, along with advanced physical ability.

Charisma 4: Average. Fairly blunt, but it can be a sign of trust.

Intelligence 3: Fair.

Agility 5: Also higher due to quirk, Action Girl perk applies. Sneak perks are available too, given her camouflage ability.

Luck 3: Fair.

Midoriya (at the time of kidnapping): 4

Strength 6: At his base power, this boy was ripped. Upon activation of One-for-All, Strength is maxed out to 10+, but requires sufficient Endurance to use fully without injury.

Perception 2: Tends to become dead to the world in thought.

Endurance 4: Fair, but would need to be higher to fully inherit OFA.

Charisma 2: Nervous, but builds on this later on. Wish it was higher.

Intelligence 7: His mind is likely his greatest weapon, and makes up for any other weaknesses. Greater Intelligence allows him to build skills quickly too.

Agility 3: Fair, but increases when OFA is activated.

Luck 4: Average.