The Protectorates

["Ranger, how much do you know about this case?"] asked Agent Pike.

Jonathan replied, ["Almost nothing. All I know was that a few weeks ago a family and their dog was found dead on a nature trail and that nobody's been able to find the cause yet."]

Agent Pike walked to the board and pointed to a crime scene picture, ["A good starting point then. Those were the first victims. Several more have been found since then. In homes,"] Pike swiped the board several pictures of dozens of victims in various places in their houses, ["At work,"] Pike swiped again showing office workers sprawled on the floor or their desk, ["Even in public areas."] Pike swiped again and showed a park with several people sprawled on the ground.

Pike pulled up some autopsy files onto the holo-board, ["Autopsies on the victims didn't show a clear sign of death, there are no visible injuries, no signs of a struggle at the scene, we're stumbling into the dark here."]

["So what makes you guys think I can help solve this?"] asked Jonathan.

["You have a track record of solving almost unsolvable cases."] said Chuck.

Jonathan shook his head, ["No, I just get lucky, and I'm in the right place at the right time."]

Chuck made a 'hmph' noise and said, ["Then we're hoping you can do the same thing on this case, too."]

["Okay, I'll go over everything and let you know if something jumps out at me."] said Jonathan.

["So we're gonna go into a heavily armed compound, just the two of us?"] Rumi couldn't believe what she was hearing; this was suicide, plain and simple.

Jonathan just nodded, ["Yup, that's the plan."]

Rumi was silent for a moment, then grinned and said, ["I like this plan."]

Jonathan snapped his revolver shut and picked up his rifle, ["Thought you would, come on probie, let's go raise some hell."]

["What did I say about calling me probie?"] asked Rumi; if looks could kill, Jonathan would have died about four times.

["When do I listen to anything you say, Rumi?"] asked Jonathan.

The moment ended abruptly as alarms from across the island blared, and every light, both inside and from the street lights, changed from a soft, warm glow to an angry red.

["Okay, that can't be good,"] muttered Claire

The civilians around them started to murmur, fear laced their tones, and many were already beginning to panic.

From outside, Jonathan could hear the roar of engines, an eerily familiar roar that sent a chill through his bones. Claire noticed him tense up and asked, ["What is it?"]

["Soviet-made APC's probably Tectors,"] said Jonathan in a hushed tone. There was no reason to get the civilians overly worried; they already made their situation complicated. But they'd all freak out if they thought the Russians were here.

["APCs? Are you sure?"] asked Claire.

The engine's roar grew louder then four armored vehicles rumbled by their building, their turrets swiveling around to dissuade any attackers, ["Pretty sure,"] commented Jonathan.

"You really think you can stand up to me, boy? Look at you; you're barely able to stand, let alone fight. Give in, child, accept your fate." Izuku spat blood onto the concrete; All for One was right; Izuku couldn't beat him. But he'd never give in, either.

He clenched his teeth, raised his fists, and glared at All for One, "I'll never stop trying to beat you."

All for One chuckled darkly, then it grew louder and louder until it turned into great earth-shaking guffaws. "You have spirit, child! Much like your predecessors!" All for One suddenly closed the distance between the two of them, "But that will not save you."

The next thing Izuku knew, he was flying backward through a concrete wall, and as he hit a steel beam, he felt the world slipping away. The last thing he saw was a woman dressed in a white outfit, a yellow cape billowing behind her.

"You did good, Midoriya, but you're no match for him; I'll take over from here." She reached out a hand as if to pull him to his feet. As he grasped her hand, the world vanished.

This was a teaser, Chapter one will be posted January first. Just thought I'd give y'all a little preview at what I've been working on during the summer. Also had to post it on here, you can't start a new story with a teaser.